This paper reflects on innovative assessment practice on an undergraduate tourism and hospitality module. Following an extensive redesign to adopt an active learning and dialogical pedagogy, we developed the service quality masterclass assessment to enhance career readiness skills and creative thinking. This assessment connected theoretical principles with real-world service organisations and challenged learners to host and facilitate a masterclass for their peers. Throughout the paper, we argue that such an assessment not only strengthened learner resilience but provided a safe space to apply workplace skills and competencies such as team working, communication and leadership. Our evaluation of this approach produced an increase in attendance, pass rates and high levels of satisfaction whilst guarding against academic integrity concerns.