Lidl |

You’ve probably heard of us – we’re one of the world’s leading supermarkets with quality products and low prices. But you might not know how we got here.

We’re part of The Schwarz Group, the world’s largest retail group. We operate in 32 countries, have over 376,000 employees, around 12,350 stores and more than 225 warehouses. We stand out from our British competitors, thanks to our fresh take on food retail and commitment to our customers.

With over 960 stores nationwide, 14 regional distribution centres, and a state-of-the-art Head Office in South-West London, we’re big in more ways than one.

We opened our first Lidl GB doors in 1994 - and we’re still growing. Lidl GB is now home to:

• Over 32,000 colleagues
• In more than 960 stores
• With around 2,000 products

Our opportunities are nationwide. With plenty of avenues for you to take, the possibilities are endless.

What to expect when you join #teamlidl

At Lidl, it’s more than just a job. It’s a launchpad for your future. We’ll give you

the skills and support you need to succeed from your very first day.

Onboarding
Your Lidl journey begins with a two-day National Welcome Event, where all our graduates come together under one roof. You’ll watch presentations from our Board of Directions, take part in interactive games, and enjoy a networking dinner to get to know each other.

Training
Our bespoke graduate training programme gives an in-depth understanding of the business and how we operate. You’ll be supported with the development of your leadership skills through our internal Leadership Academy and will be able to hone these skills throughout your programme.

Charity Challenge
Fancy a fun challenge for a good cause? Join our Charity Challenge and choose your one-day event. From Tough Mudder to Bake Sales, all funds raised go to NSPCC’s Childline service.

Graduation
And at the end of the programme, you’ll join your fellow graduates at an event to celebrate all your hard work and achievements together.

We want to get to know you.

Your skills, your experience, your interests – but above all, your attitude. Our graduate opportunities have different deadlines, so keep an eye on our careers site to make sure you know what’s happening and when. While our direct entry roles may have different application stages, the application process for our graduate programmes usually involves four stages.

Step 1 – Online application- First, you’ll apply online and upload your CV (cover letter optional). This is your first chance to showcase your studies so far, any extracurricular activities you’ve done (like sports or volunteering), and anything that tells us more about you.

Step 2 – Online assessment- After your online application, you’re instantly invited to complete our online assessment. This includes questions to assess your experience and your approach.

Step 3 – Video Interview- If you pass the online assessment, you’ll be invited to record a video application. We’ll send you some questions based on you and your experiences and prompts for what to include in the video interview. We’re looking at your motivation for Lidl, why this programme, and why you think you would be a good fit.

Step 4 – Assessment day- This is a half-day event involving a networking session, task and an interview – exploring situations where you have experienced team building, conflict management, targets, and deadlines. This is a chance for you to show off your people skills and initiative, as well as find out more about the business.

We're famous for being ‘Big on Quality, Lidl On Price’. Offering the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices has definitely helped us become the success we are today, but that’s only part of the story because it's our people that bring Lidl to life. Our business is built on their dedication, and our success is their success.

We're a diverse network of people from all walks of life. Thousands of different stories and personalities and every one of us has a part to play in shaping our culture and our future. Our individuality makes every team unique, but we all share the same values across the business.

Join us, and you become part of a strong and growing business - part of one united team of talented, hardworking people, whose energy and commitment make us what we are. That energy and commitment reach beyond the business too – we support environmental action, fair trade, sustainable sourcing and animal welfare. And we make a big difference to some important charities too.

Our vision statement sets out our objectives in relation to becoming a more inclusive organisation:

‘Diversity strengthens Lidl GB. We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve, where all colleagues can be themselves.’

At Lidl, we champion our differences. From football fans and chocoholics to single parents and students, we all come from different walks of life, with thousands of stories to share. It’s what makes our teams unique. As part of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, we’ve made a firm commitment to listen and learn from our colleagues so we can see what works and change what doesn’t.

To create a more inclusive culture for everyone, our colleagues...

• … are invited to listening groups on topics such as gender, LGBTIQQ+, disability, ethnicity, and age. These listening groups help us make Lidl GB a more inclusive place for all.
• ... are invited annually to take part in a national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) survey, so we can learn from the people who matter and adapt our strategy based on what’s important to them.
• ... have access to a dedicated DEI Resource Hub featuring all the latest information (including videos, colleague stories, reports, and upcoming events).
• … have all completed Inclusion Awareness training, equipping them with the knowledge and tools they need to support an inclusive culture.

We’ve also…

• …launched regional DEI working groups to help keep inclusion on the agenda and allow regional teams to make an impact and make their regions more inclusive
• …appointed 8 of our senior directors as “sponsors” of inclusion. These directors will use their lived experiences to help shape our DEI strategy going forward.
• …attended London and Birmingham Pride in 2024 where we celebrated the journeys of our LGBTQ+ colleagues and customers.

Our programmes really challenge you, and you are well rewarded for your hard work.

• 23-month Buying-focussed programme
• Head Office-based
• £40,000 salary plus 10% non-contractual London weighting
• Company car
• 30 days’ holiday (pro-rata including bank holidays)
• 10% in-store discount
• Wellbeing support service
• Corporate benefits portal (e.g. advice, support and various discounts)

So, if you’re looking for a role where you’ll be encouraged to step outside of your comfort zone and really excel, then we’ve got the grad programme for you.