Store Apprentice Review

I am a Store Apprentice at ALDI, my tasks vary depending on the day, but my tasks include: Being on the tills serving customers, working with backstock on the shop floor, or removing empty boxes from shelves. Normally I will be interacting with the customers either serving them at the till, or assisting them on the shop floor.

Through this apprenticeship I have learnt how to deal with the public in different scenarios, how to work with pick lists for deliveries, how to use a pallet track, operating and changing a baler, efficient working.

On most days the apprenticeship is enjoyable, where things just go well, all the staff at my store are great to be around and the way the company works makes it easier to remain in a good mood, however, sometimes customers can be rude and this diminishes the experience.

I feel valued most of the time, managers usually let me know when I've done something well/wrong and how I can improve in the way I do my tasks, but sometimes I feel like I'm just cheaper labour for them, and they don't respect the fact that I am younger and less experienced than other staff.

The ALDI programme hasn't been very organised, some training that we needed was not given in a timely manner and it caused problems with our work, however it has improved due to a new area manager being in charge. The assessing company (Seetec) has been quite terrible, I have been on this programme for 8 months now, and I have only seen a mentor 3 times in this timeframe, and it is severely affecting the qualification progress.

I have received hardly any support from my training provider, out of the 8 months I have been on my apprenticeship I have only seen a mentor 3 times, despite the fact that I am meant to see them at least once a month, I had to contact their head office to get information on why nobody has come to see me twice now, I am very disappointed with them.

I receive okay support from my employer, my managers are very good at making sure I know what to do, and how to do it, if I need any help with problems I can speak to any of my managers and they can help me with it, however I feel there is an air of annoyance whenever I ask some managers for assistance.

My living costs have increased quite a bit due to having this apprenticeship, as I now help pay for the gas and electric, I have minimum travel costs as I can walk to work, and any travel is done as cheaply as possible. I have some daily costs, but I don't need to buy things some days. All in all, earning £5.30 an hour is an excellent amount for somebody my age, and it allows me to save money very easily.

To my knowledge there aren't many opportunities outside of work, however a new thing has been introduced for employees that allow them to get discounts on certain things.

Yes

I would recommend Aldi because although the job is challenging, it pays rather well and the staff all work together to help make things run as smoothly as possible