As students across the UK receive their exam results today, Aldi is urging young people to consider a career in retail.

The UK’s fourth largest grocery chain has announced over 350 apprenticeship roles, with recruitment underway in stores nationwide.

Aldi’s apprenticeship programme offers young people the opportunity to earn while they learn, with store apprentices paid £8.64 per hour in their first year, increasing to £12.11 per hour by their third year.

For those working inside the M25, pay starts at £8.87 per hour, rising to £12.76.

Successful applicants will gain industry-recognised qualifications and access a variety of additional benefits, including high-street shopping discounts and a bike-to-work scheme.

“Not every young person will want to follow the same path after school and there are plenty of ways to build a successful career,” said Kelly Stokes, recruitment director at Aldi UK. “Our apprentices get real experience, real pay, and the chance to build a real future from day one, and we’ve got a whole host of opportunities available for those who are ambitious, driven and ready to learn.”

Aldi claims to be the highest-paying supermarket in the sector and remains committed to keeping wages competitive.

The company recently announced that, from September, it will become the first supermarket to pay all store assistants at least £13.00 an hour.

Students who successfully apply for a store apprentice role now will also benefit from higher pay rates starting in September, with first-year rates at £8.81, or £9.05 within the M25.

Earlier this month, Aldi revealed plans to open an average of one new supermarket every week for the rest of 2025.

This rollout is part of Aldi’s £650 million investment in its UK store estate this year. Alongside new openings, 35 existing stores are scheduled for refurbishment before the end of 2025, further enhancing the shopping experience for customers.

In May, Aldi launched a new virtual work experience programme.

The free online course is designed to develop skills and introduce students to the wide range of careers available in retail.

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