Double the amount pledged by the retailer over the same length of time in 2023, this latest round will take the amount of apprenticeship funding the supermarket has provided to SMEs to £5.5m by the end of 2027.
The commitment, which forms part of the apprenticeship levy gifting scheme Aldi launched in 2021, will provide a variety of opportunities at different levels and in settings such as nurseries, care homes, healthcare and trades. So far, more than 100 smaller employers have benefited from the scheme.
‘Potential lifeline’
Lisa Murphy, UK training and development director at Aldi UK, said: “Apprenticeships can be a potential lifeline to young people looking for that first opportunity in a competitive job market, but they are equally transformative for businesses that embrace them as well.
“We plan to ramp up the number of apprentices we recruit this year. But not all smaller businesses have the resources to invest, and it’s often these employers that could benefit the most from a well-funded programme.”
Earlier this year, Aldi set out plans to recruit more than 500 of its own apprentices, alongside 1,600 new store roles, during 2025.
Levy gifting
“Levy gifting is an excellent way for larger organisations to expand the impact of apprenticeships and we intend to use the scheme to its full potential in supporting smaller employers in our communities,” Murphy added.
Changes to the apprenticeship system in the UK over the past 10 years have provided food and drink manufacturing businesses with new ways to get talented young people through the door.
Terry Fennell, chief executive officer at awarding and end-point assessment organisation FDQ, tells Food Manufacture how recent reforms can further benefit the sector while creating more flexibility for apprentices.
Meanwhile, Aldi has announced that it spent more than £14 billion with UK suppliers during 2024.
