BUDGET supermarket chain Aldi has announced a raft of new apprenticeships in Bolton.

Applications for the scheme are open now.

Apprentices will be trained in all aspects of retail management during the three year course.

Positions are available at the two Bolton stores, as well as stores in Leigh and Walkden.

Aldi has also agreed that a management trainee, electrician, plumber, plasterer and carpenter will all be hired as apprentices for the construction of Aldi’s new distribution centre at the Logistics North site in Bolton, which is due to open next year.

The scheme offers store assistant training in year one and store management training in years two and three with a salary of £5.30 per hour rising to £7.63 per hour.

Successful apprentices will be offered a deputy manager position on completion of the course, and can progress onto assistant store manager.

Ruth Doyle, regional managing director at Aldi, said: “The Aldi Apprentice Scheme will deliver opportunities for committed and resourceful young people nationwide.

"Successful candidates will be joining one of the most dynamic and fast-growing retailers in the UK, with a proven track record in developing its staff.

“Aldi’s apprentices are given real responsibility from day one, with the opportunity to learn about the business from a grassroots level, and we expect our recruits to progress to a managerial level.”

Apprentices will also achieve a retail apprenticeship level three qualification, which very few retailer apprenticeships currently offer.

By the end of the scheme, the most successful store apprentices will have the opportunity to progress to the position of assistant store manager with a starting salary of £24,500.

By joining the apprentice scheme, young people could ultimately be fast tracked to a store manager position.

The closing date for applications is Friday September 11.

Successful candidates will be asked to attend a group interview followed by an Aldi experience at a local store.

To apply, go to aldirecruitment.co.uk