Lidl paying new workers up to £46k a year to go to university under jobs plan

Lidl GB has unveiled a lucrative opportunity for new workers to earn while they learn. Under its Retail Leadership degree apprenticeship scheme it will pay students up to £46k a year for hands-on learning combined with study.

The scheme kicks off with a £26,000 starting wage in the first year, which can escalate to £46,000 by the fourth year. On Monday, Lidl revealed that out of over 5,000 applications, 51 apprentices have been inducted into the programme, all school leavers looking for a career in retail.

Developed in conjunction with Kingston University, located within the same borough as Lidl's headquarters, the Retail Leadership BSc (Hons) programme combines university study with on-the-ground retail experience over four years. Participants will gain practical skills working in-store and enhance their retail industry knowledge through visits to both the university and Lidl House.

Graduating apprentices are expected to emerge fully-equipped for store management roles, reports Walesonline. Alongside the apprenticeship programme, Lidl GB is also integrating 50 new graduates into the workforce via its established annual scheme.

Stephanie Rogers, Chief Human Resources Officer at Lidl GB, said: "I'm thrilled to welcome over 100 talented individuals to Lidl GB through these programmes. Our partnership with Kingston University for the Retail Leadership apprenticeship is a significant milestone, and it’s exciting to see it come to life in our 30th year of operating in Great Britain.

"Equally, our Graduate Scheme continues to attract bright minds eager to start their careers in this dynamic industry. We are committed to investing in the next generation of retail leaders and look forward to supporting them as they grow with us.”

Head of Kingston Business School, Professor Sankar Sivarajah, said: “Our partnership with Lidl on the Retail Leadership Degree Apprenticeship demonstrates Kingston Business School is working on real-world business requirements, which will have an immediate impact on the students’ career paths and in turn the UK economy. There is a real need for skills development, with challenges for industries to overcome and this approach to knowledge partnerships bridges that gap.

"The apprenticeship will equip students with the competencies and skills they need for the future, such as digital insights into retail marketing or gaining the financial competencies, to be a well-rounded manager working within a large organisation.”

Lidl said the partnership reflects its ongoing investment in its people "setting a strong foundation for the future of retail leadership". It follows the discounter’s third pay rise for hourly-paid colleagues in the space of 12 months, offering industry leading hourly rate of £12.40 outside M25 and £13.65 inside.