Aldi offers lifeline to Wilko workers and has over 6,000 store jobs available

Aldi UK has called on Wilko workers fearful of losing their jobs to get in touch as the supermarket has over 6,000 store vacancies available.

Aldi previously said it was creating 800 jobs in its new stores over the coming months and today added that it was also recruiting for a ‘large volume’ of other store roles across the country as its expansion continues. 

A spokesperson for Aldi told This is Money the supermarket is planning to open around 20 stores across the UK in the coming months.

This week, Wilko’s administrators, PwC, warned of job losses and future store closures after no buyer was found for the entire business.  

Lifeline: Aldi says it has over 6,000 store vacancies which could help stricken Wilko workers

Wilko announced earlier this month that it was going into administration, putting 12,500 jobs and its 400 stores at risk. 

In a statement on Wednesday, PwC, said: ‘While discussions continue with those interested in buying parts of the business, it’s clear that the nature of this interest is not focused on the whole group.

‘Sadly, it is therefore likely that there will be redundancies and store closures in the future and it has today been necessary to update employee representatives.’

Potential buyers of slices of the group are thought to include rivals B&M European Value Retail, Poundland, The Range and Home Bargains. 

In the short-term, all Wilko stores remain open and continue to trade, and staff continue to be paid, the administrators said. PwC said there were ‘currently no plans to close any stores next week.’

Administrators for the stricken retailer denied plans to close stores next week after the GMB union said ‘the majority’ would be shut. 

At risk: PwC admitted this week that a buyer for the whole of Wilko is yet to be found

With over 12,000 Wilko jobs at risk, Aldi said it hoped to offer ‘long-term retail roles’ to those who have lost their jobs as a result of the Wilko downturn, with a range of positions available from store assistant and caretaker to store manager. 

Kelly Stokes, recruitment director at Aldi UK, said: ‘We continue to welcome more and more customers to Aldi stores every week, and we are working hard to meet the huge demand for our unbeatable prices.

‘That means finding thousands of new Aldi colleagues to support this growth, which will hopefully be of interest to those who have recently lost out due to closures elsewhere.’

On pay, Aldi said store assistants receive starting pay of £11.40 per hour and those based in London receive £12.85 per hour. The supermarket also claimed it was the only supermarket to pay for breaks, which, it says, can be worth up to £972 a year. 

Meanwhile, GMB national secretary, Andy Prendergast, said: ‘GMB union will continue to support members through this process and will fight to ensure members are consulted as per the law and that you receive every penny you are entitled to.

‘We will fight to ensure Wilko bosses are held accountable for the simple reason our members deserve so much better.

‘GMB will not forget the incompetence that has led to this collapse and we will not forget the dividends paid to the millionaires who gambled your jobs on their whims.’

The demise of Wilko marks another bleak episode for the high street following the collapse of newsagent McColl’s last year before its rescue by Morrisons.

In recent years, the high street has lost names such as Debenhams, Topshop owner Arcadia group and Mothercare owing to the shift to online shopping and side-effects of lockdowns.