Since December 2024, Aldi’s partnership with Springpod has helped thousands of young people explore early careers in retail, logistics and business - many for the very first time.

With rising application volumes, widening readiness gaps and increasing pressure on Early Careers teams, Aldi set out to do something ambitious. Reach young people at scale, improve access to career insight, and build confidence early - without adding friction to the funnel and VCirtual Work Experience made that possible.

The challenge: Scale, access and readiness

Like many large employers, Aldi faces a complex early careers landscape.

Young people are navigating an increasingly competitive job market, often without a clear understanding of what roles involve or what employers are really looking for. At the same time, Early Careers teams are balancing high demand with the need to keep processes fair, inclusive and human.

Aldi’s focus was clear:

• Reach large volumes of young people across the UK
• Improve awareness of career opportunities at Aldi
• Support students from priority and underrepresented backgrounds
• Build confidence before the application stage

The solution: An immersive virtual work experience with Aldi

Through Springpod, Aldi launched an immersive virtual work experience designed to take students beyond the middle aisle and into the reality of working at one of the UK’s largest supermarkets.

The programme gives young people an insider’s look at Aldi’s culture, values and career opportunities - whether their interests lie in retail, warehouse operations, office-based roles or apprenticeships.

Students progress through five interactive modules, each designed to build understanding and confidence. Along the way, they:

• Explore different business areas and roles across Aldi
• Learn about Apprenticeships and alternative entry routes
• Develop essential employability skills
• Receive practical advice on applying for jobs
• Hear directly from Aldi colleagues, who share their career journeys and insights

With quizzes, interactive activities and mentor-led content, the experience is designed to feel practical, accessible and realistic,  allowing students to learn at their own pace, wherever they are.

The impact: Confidence, clarity and career interest

Since launching in December 2024, the programme has reached young people across the UK at significant scale.

Headline impact

• 9,004 students enrolled
• 87% started the programme
• 57% completed
• 7.2/10 average satisfaction rating

Reaching young people nationwide

Participation spanned the country, with particularly strong engagement in:

• West Midlands: 1,449 students
• London: 1,366
• South East: 1,254
• Yorkshire & Humber: 1,117

Supporting access and inclusion

The programme reached a high proportion of students from priority backgrounds:

• 44% female
• 40% from global majority backgrounds
• 34% eligible for free school meals
• 17% first-generation university
• 9% care experienced

This ensured that meaningful career insight wasn’t limited to those already “in the know”.

Stronger awareness, greater confidence and real movement.

Students reported clear shifts in how they viewed both Aldi and their own futures.

• Awareness of careers rated good or excellent rose to 89%
• Over half of those enrolled said they were likely to consider a career at Aldi
• Confidence in finding a future job rose to 79%
• Confidence speaking to an industry professional increased to 72%

These outcomes show the power of early, low-pressure exposure, helping young people feel informed and capable before they ever apply.

What students said

The feedback highlights what mattered most: clarity, accessibility and confidence.

“It really helped me understand roles I’d never considered before and gave me confidence in my skills.”

“This programme felt genuinely useful rather than overwhelming.”

“it was informative, engaging, and made me feel more confident about taking my next steps.”

“It’s not often you find something that is both easy to follow and genuinely useful.”

Shaping the future of early careers

Aldi’s commitment to accessible early careers extends beyond virtual work experience.

As part of Springpod’s Impact Hour webinar series, Aldi recently joined
“AI, Skills and Fair Access: How the Next Generation is Changing the Early Careers Funnel in 2026 and Beyond”, featuring insights from:

• Kelly Frith, Human Resource Lead at Aldi
• Rhianna Macfarlane, HR Supervisor at Aldi UK

The session explored how young people are using AI in applications, what feels supportive versus outdated, and how Early Careers teams can design fairer, more effective pathways at scale.

It reflects the same approach Aldi brings to its virtual programme: listening to young people, adapting early, and focusing on readiness (not just volume).

Read our summary blog or watch the webinar on demand.

Looking ahead

Aldi’s partnership with Springpod shows what’s possible when early careers programmes prioritise access, clarity and confidence.

By meeting young people where they are (digitally, realistically and without pressure) Aldi has engaged thousands of students, supported underrepresented groups, and strengthened its future talent pipeline in a way that feels both human and scalable.

For many young people, it all starts with one simple shift: finally being able to picture themselves at Aldi.