Aldi to fund more apprenticeships

The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket has worked with MDS – which provides industry training, including a graduate apprenticeship scheme – since 2016.

Aldi is investing part of its Apprenticeship Levy into four new cohorts of students over two years, bringing its total funding to close to £1 million over six years. The first set of cohorts started in April.

MDS helps nurture future talent within the sector by equipping trainees with experience in four different businesses as they work towards earning a Leadership and Management qualification accredited by the Chartered Management Institute.

The trainees will develop management and leadership skills while learning the ropes in a range of positions, including supply chain, marketing, technical and operations.

Aldi has already taken on five permanent employees from previous MDS intakes, and plans to support two existing colleagues through the apprenticeship programme in 2021.

Aldi UK recruitment director Kelly Stokes said: “The MDS scheme is highly respected and provides an excellent pathway for promising talent to achieve their potential within the sector, which is why we are pleased to be funding a further sixty apprenticeships over the next two years.”

Employers will receive £3,000 for new apprentices of any age who join their organisation from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021, the Government has said.

The incentive payment is in addition to the £1,000 employers already receive for hiring an apprentice aged 16 to 18 years old, or under 25 with an education, health and care plan or who has been in the care of their local authority.

You can apply for incentive payments for these apprentices from 1 June 2021 to 30 November 2021.

The payment is different to apprenticeship levy funds, so you can spend it on anything to support your organisation’s costs. For example, on uniforms, your apprentice’s travel or their salary. You do not have to pay it back.

You can apply for the incentive payment after you add new apprentices to your apprenticeship service account. You must set up an apprenticeship service account to apply.