Aldi, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain, has announced it will allocate an additional £2 million over the next two years to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its apprenticeship levy gifting scheme. This latest funding commitment is part of a broader initiative Aldi launched in 2021 aimed at helping smaller employers fund industry apprenticeships, and will bring the total investment to £5.5 million by the end of 2027.

The scheme, which Aldi doubled its investment target for after achieving the previous £2 million goal seven months ahead of schedule, has already supported nearly 100 smaller businesses. The new funds are intended to facilitate a variety of apprenticeship opportunities across multiple sectors including nurseries, care homes, healthcare, and trades.

Lisa Murphy, UK Training and Development Director at Aldi UK, highlighted the dual benefits of apprenticeships in an interview with Grocery Trader. She 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.”

Murphy emphasised Aldi’s commitment to increasing its apprenticeship recruitment during the current year, while recognising that smaller businesses often lack the resources to invest in such programmes. She added, “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.”

Earlier in 2024, Aldi revealed plans to recruit more than 500 apprentices and create 1,600 new store roles throughout 2025, reflecting its ongoing focus on workforce development and community engagement. This continued investment into apprenticeships and job creation underlines Aldi’s strategy to bolster employment opportunities both within its operations and across the wider UK business landscape.