From aircrew to Aldi: meet the career-changers who swapped sectors to work for the UK's best-paying supermarket

The Guardian

2 days ago

When Libby Worley joined Aldi at 21, her salary doubled from that of her previous job – an assistant store manager at a fast food restaurant. But beyond the pay jump, what most appealed to her was the supportive culture at the company. She had worked for the fast food business for five years and it wasn't too concerned about staff turnover, she says. 'But looking after employees is a really big thing at Aldi.'
She was one of the youngest Aldi store managers in the UK when she was promoted at 22. Eight years later, she's been running Aldi's Barnstaple store in Devon for the past three years, overseeing a team of 25. 'No two days look the same,' she says about a typical working week. 'I'm looking at stock, managing staff, doing rotas, payroll, inventory loss. Some days I'm on the till, covering someone on a break. That's the thing about Aldi – everybody is trained on everything. And I enjoy the variety. I wouldn't want to be sitting in the office being a clipboard manager.'
Compared with her previous job, Worley has found the work-life balance much better at Aldi. She's able to properly enjoy her days off, only being contacted if absolutely necessary. At the same time, she appreciates the regular communication and support from her area manager, which helps her stay connected and feel supported in her role. Worley herself would like to progress into an area manager role in the future. 'At Aldi, we always try to promote from within. I see my area manager twice a week, every week. I also feel I'm able to have more close contact with every single member of my staff.'
The benefit of that close-knit team, she adds, is everyone knows each other and is always willing to help out. 'That comes from my team, the area manager, my store operations director, and the managing director. I don't feel like a number on a spreadsheet, I feel like they genuinely care. That's why I'm still here.'
Worley is not alone in seeing her long-term future at the retailer. In 2024, it was ranked in the top 20 of the top 50 inspiring workplaces for the UK and Ireland, and it has also picked up a HR Excellence Award for its diversity and inclusion strategy.
Aldi also offers very attractive salaries. For instance, store managers earn £51,615 a year, rising to £67,315 after four years. Store managers working within the M25 receive an allowance of up to £3,945, depending on location.
In addition, Aldi UK offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid leave, a variety of healthcare options, enhanced parental leave, and a range of lifestyle perks.
Matt Brotherton spent 24 years with an airline, progressing to flight manager level, before the pandemic grounded the airline's crew. He worked for Aldi as a stock assistant during the furlough scheme, then joined the retailer full-time in the summer of 2020.
He's recently been appointed store manager of Aldi's store in Christchurch, Dorset. 'It's been a whirlwind, the time's gone so fast,' he says. 'I'm enjoying having a bit more work-life balance. I can go home every day and actually make plans. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't do this sooner.'
Brotherton's typical day is fast-paced and varied. He starts by overseeing deliveries and making sure the store is well stocked and running smoothly. He's also responsible for planning rotas, managing orders in advance, and keeping day-to-day operations on track. He's found a lot of the skills he developed in the travel industry have been transferable – particularly in customer service and in leading and motivating a diverse team.
'Retail is all about people and that's what I'm used to, so the transition has been relatively easy,' he says. 'But obviously flying and working in a supermarket are very different, and Aldi has paired me with a lot of experienced people to guide me through.'
His goal was to one day become a store manager, and he's happy to have realised that ambition so quickly. In the future, he would like to move to a brand new store to really see the impact he could make managing it from day one. 'There are opportunities to do a wide number of things,' he says, adding that he'd recommend Aldi to anyone considering making a change to a different industry. 'The switch is not as daunting as you may think.'
To learn more about opportunities at Aldi, visit aldirecruitment.co.uk/roles/stores