Read the storyAHLEX helped us turn new EASA requirements into a clear and confident learning path, giving airside drivers the language skills they need to communicate safely in real operational situations.
Ostend-Bruges Airport
The full Gate Gourmet story
Dutch language training programme developed for and with Gate Gourmet.
At Gate Gourmet, people are at the heart of the business. The company brings together employees from many cultural, national and linguistic backgrounds. That diversity is a strength, but it can also make communication on the workfloor more difficult.
Gate Gourmet wanted to invest in language as a driver of inclusion. The goal was not only to teach Dutch, but to help employees feel more confident in daily conversations, understand each other better at work and grow in their jobs.
Together with Gate Gourmet, AHLEX developed a structured Dutch language programme that can grow with participants year after year. The learning path follows CEFR levels A1, A2 and B1, with modules of 32 hours. An employee who starts at A1 and continues through B1 can follow up to 256 hours of training.
The programme combines vocabulary and grammar with the four language skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Everyday situations and work-related scenarios are brought together, so participants learn Dutch they can actually use in the workplace and beyond.
AHLEX made the training dynamic, accessible and engaging. Classroom sessions give participants the theory, grammar and vocabulary foundations they need. Practical training then turns that knowledge into use, with dialogues, role plays and workplace scenarios that reflect real situations at Gate Gourmet. Interactive learning keeps the programme varied and memorable. Flashcards, quizzes, videos and audio exercises help participants practise in different ways, repeat what matters and build confidence step by step. This mix makes sure employees do not only learn Dutch, but also retain it and apply it in daily conversations at work.
The programme has steadily grown in reach. Between October 2023 and March 2024, four A1 groups and one A2 group completed training. From November 2024 to April 2025, A1, A2 and B1 groups continued the path. The following phase, from October 2025 to April 2026, brought new A1 and B1 groups into the programme and marked an important step for employees moving further towards B1.
The impact goes beyond the workplace. Employees gain language tools that help them communicate with colleagues, but also support their children, speak with neighbours and take part more confidently in daily life. For many, learning Dutch means more than learning a language. It creates pride, connection and a stronger sense of belonging.
For Gate Gourmet, the programme strengthens inclusion and engagement from the inside. When people feel supported and recognised, they grow. And when people grow, the organisation grows with them.
