‘I don't want to limit myself': meet the apprentices getting a career head start

The Guardian

13 hours ago

A career in warehouse operations wasn't an obvious choice for Evie Foster. However, after encountering numerous adverts for the Aldi apprenticeship programme online, she began to consider it. 'It seemed to be destined,' she says. Despite a previous apprenticeship experience that didn't live up to her expectations, Foster decided to apply.
Following group and individual interviews, Foster was offered a position on the warehouse career starter programme. The scheme takes 12-15 months to complete and can lead to a permanent role within the warehouse on successful completion of a level 2 supply chain warehouse operative qualification.
There are many reasons to choose an apprenticeship over an academic route to employment. For Foster, the advantages include earning while gaining hands-on experience while also working towards a qualification that will lead to a fulfilling career. 'I don't want to limit myself,' she says. 'When you do an apprenticeship you have the learning side and coursework too so you're not missing out. An apprenticeship is a really good stepping stone with a good qualification at the end, but it doesn't limit what you can do next.'
Aldi's apprenticeship programmes are designed to provide apprentices such as Foster with exposure to different departments. 'I've been in so many departments so far, and I feel like I've really got a lot from that,' she says. This approach also helps to develop a broad skill set and an in-depth understanding of the business. For instance, department rotations for warehouse operations apprentices include goods in, transport, freezer, long-life chill, inventory and specials.
In addition to on-the-job training, apprentices engage in a detailed teaching programme. 'The hands-on work you do in the warehouse links to your apprenticeship coursework,' Foster explains. 'You take what you learn on the floor into the classroom, and what you study gets taken straight to the warehouse floor.'
A common misconception is that apprenticeships are a less valuable route to a career compared with traditional academic pathways, or that they're only suitable for those not pursuing higher education. Noah Addison, who joined the Aldi store manager apprenticeship scheme with encouragement from his mother, challenges these myths. 'I think it is quite an old-fashioned idea that apprenticeships are not the right way to go,' he says. Having attended college and found it unfulfilling, Addison found the apprenticeship appealing because it allowed him to start building a career immediately.
Addison's apprenticeship includes regular catch-up calls with a tutor, coursework that can be completed at times that suit him, and the flexibility to balance his job and his studies. Foster agrees 'it's challenging but manageable'.
Aldi's apprenticeship programme also provides opportunities for apprentices to develop soft skills, such as supporting customers and effective communication with colleagues. Moving between departments has broadened Foster's practical skills. 'I've really grown – more than I thought I would,' she says. 'In a typical role, you focus on one thing, but here, you get to try everything.'
Being entrusted with significant responsibility during his apprenticeship also contributed to Addison's growth. 'I'm not officially a manager yet, but I'm treated as one,' he says. 'I've been here for three years and I'm a completely different person thanks to my manager pushing me, and that's been brilliant for my social skills.'
One of Addison's most memorable moments was being asked to oversee a shift by himself for 10 minutes, at just 17, while his leader supposedly nipped out while Addison was meant to be shadowing him. 'It was daunting,' he says, 'but you have support. At the time, I thought I'd completely blown it, but they weren't expecting perfection. I discovered later he hadn't really left the building, of course. They wanted to see how I would handle the situation and were impressed with how I took it on.'
For parents or young people uncertain whether an apprenticeship is the right choice, Foster offers this advice: 'If you're someone who doesn't want to sit in a classroom and wants to learn through doing, an apprenticeship is the perfect option. You get to learn real skills while getting paid and working with a great team.'
To learn more about Aldi's apprenticeship opportunities, visit aldirecruitment.co.uk/early-careers/apprenticeships