Dart welcomed 31 high school and university students this summer for its 2026 Work-X work experience programme, giving young Caymanians practical industry exposure across 13 business areas.
The annual initiative pairs students with Dart professionals to explore career pathways, gain structured mentorship and contribute directly to active business projects. Placements spanned a variety of disciplines, including asset management, engineering, finance, legal, marketing and information technology.
"Our goal with Work-X is to bridge the gap between academic study and the professional environment," said Glenda McTaggart, Dart senior manager – education programmes. "By embedding students into active project teams, we provide them with real responsibility, mentorship and the space to explore where their talents can take them."
Throughout the summer, interns worked on project deliverables designed to support core business objectives. In the IT department, Work-X students Michael Marzouca, Brandon Trickett, Karishma Seeram and Diamond White developed an online booking solution for day beds at Bonny Moon, a beach club in Dart’s hospitality portfolio. The project involved designing a customer-facing booking interface, an administrative management system and payment processing functionality.
In the investment analyst group, 2025 Dart High School Scholars Sienna Bryan and Isabella Partridge conducted research and presented a detailed analysis of stayover tourism in the Cayman Islands. Bryan and Partridge were among three high school students who fulfilled graduation work experience requirements for St. Ignatius Catholic School during the programme.
Additionally, students Danielle Bryan and Annabelle McMillan joined Dart's engineering team, gaining direct exposure to civil and electrical engineering operations.
Students reported that the opportunity to handle meaningful assignments was a defining aspect
of the experience.
"A great Work-X experience is one that allows you to gain hands-on experience," said marketing intern Jaiden Gilbert. "It's about feeling supported, being trusted to contribute and knowing that the work I’m doing has an impact.”
IT intern Brandon Trickett shared a similar perspective on his project work. "This experience has been both rewarding and beneficial in helping me develop a deeper understanding of the professional world," he said.
Work-X is open to Caymanian high school and university Dart Scholars, returning programme participants and university students seeking practical workplace experience.