Work Experience Success at Aldi Southport

At New Horizons, we believe in providing our young people with opportunities that help them grow and develop important life skills.

Recently, one young resident from The Dunes had the chance to complete a work experience placement at Aldi Southport, and it proved invaluable.

Facilitated by Marie McKane, a former staff member at Aldi, the young person embraced a variety of tasks during her work experience, each designed to build her confidence and introduce her to the working world.

During her two-and-a-half-hour placement, she demonstrated commendable enthusiasm, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn, making her time at Aldi both productive and rewarding.

Responsibilities Undertaken

Throughout her time at the store, the young person was assigned several key responsibilities, all of which she tackled with a positive attitude:

Store Maintenance: She helped to keep the store in top condition by cleaning, tidying the shelves, and handling loose stock. Her pleasant demeanour and attention to detail shone through as she worked diligently to maintain high standards.

Customer Service: With guidance, she assisted customers, ensuring that baskets were returned to their proper locations and even helping one customer find the product they were looking for. Her ability to use a friendly tone and engage with customers highlighted her budding customer service skills.

Recycling Duties: She learned how to manage Aldi’s recycling processes, separating cardboard and plastic, and placing them in the baling machine. This task gave her hands-on experience in sustainability practices within a retail setting.

Special Buys Display: Creativity and initiative were on display as she helped to organise Aldi’s famous “Special Buys” section, showcasing her ability to work well within a team and complete visually appealing displays.

Till Operation: Another highlight of the day was learning how to use the tills. With support, she successfully served a customer, adding a new skill to her growing repertoire.

Positive Social Interaction

In addition to learning practical job skills, the young person engaged with staff and enjoyed lunch in the canteen.

Her excellent social skills were evident as she interacted confidently with the Aldi team, even making herself some toast in the breakroom.

This time spent with the staff added to her positive experience and built relationships that will support her ongoing development.

Building Confidence and Responsibility

The structured environment of the work experience placement allowed her to experience real responsibility. She needed guidance and supervision throughout the day, with verbal prompts to help her understand and complete each task.

However, once she understood her role, she transitioned smoothly between duties, always carrying out her responsibilities with care and diligence.

This opportunity gave her a sense of achievement and built her confidence, which is one of the most important outcomes of the experience.

Although independent employment might not be feasible for her at this stage, the work experience placement was a crucial step in her personal growth and development.

A Warm Welcome from Aldi Southport

Both the area manager and the store manager of Aldi Southport were full of praise for her performance and welcomed her back for future placements.

Although a weekly arrangement may not be practical due to logistics, the possibility of monthly work experience visits is being considered, as this could continue to provide valuable learning opportunities for her.

When asked about her favourite part of the day, she mentioned that greeting staff and customers was the highlight.

Her positive attitude and eagerness to engage with people were noticed by everyone at the store, leaving a lasting impression on the Aldi team.

Looking Ahead

At New Horizons, we strive to support our young people in discovering their strengths, and this work experience has proven to be an important stepping stone for this individual.

We look forward to exploring more opportunities like this in the future, helping our young residents build skills and confidence that will support them on their journey to independence.

Conclusion:

This work experience was a success not only in building practical skills but also in boosting confidence and creating a sense of responsibility.

With support, young people like her can continue to develop the skills they need for their future, and we are grateful to Aldi Southport and Marie McKane for facilitating such a wonderful opportunity.