Corporate Affairs Graduate Programme - Head Office

LIDL; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday (pro rata)

10% in-store discount

Enhanced professional development and

London Weighting allowance (10%)

Job summary

Lidl GB is offering a 23-month Corporate Affairs Graduate Programme at our Head Office in Tolworth, London. You will rotate across CSR & Sustainability, Corporate Communications & Reputation, and Public Affairs to build broad expertise and practical impact on local communities nationwide.

The programme emphasizes sustainability-minded, commercially aware graduates who will shape Lidl's reputation and engage with diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong written communication and ability to influence stakeholders.
• Experience coordinating multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Demonstrated leadership in a team or project setting.
• Interest in sustainability and social impact.
• Ability to work across cross-functional teams and communicate clearly.
• Willingness to relocate/commute to Head Office in Tolworth, South West London.

Responsibilities

• Rotate across CSR & Sustainability, Corporate Communications & Reputation, and Public Affairs in the first year.
• Support governance, reporting, and partnerships in sustainability projects.
• Assist with monitoring the press office and handling media enquiries.
• Contribute to policy work and campaigning with collateral development and stakeholder mapping.

Skills

Strong written communication

Leadership experience

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree 2:2 or higher

Job description

Job Description for Corporate Affairs Graduate Programme - Head Office

Company: Lidl GB

Location: London

Salary: £40,000 per annum

• Contract: 23-month Fixed Term Contract

  Benefits: 30 days holiday (pro rata), 10% in-store discount, enhanced professional development and mentoring, high-profile projects impacting local communities nationwide, plus additional 10% non-contractual London Weighting allowance.

  Everyone who works at Lidl brings something unique to the table - but we also have a whole lot in common. We're motivated, commercially aware and ready to take on any challenge. Kickstart your career with a team that makes a difference! Our Corporate Affairs team is looking for ambitious, sustainability-minded, and commercially aware graduates to join our 23-month Graduate Scheme.

  Corporate Affairs gives Lidl a relevant voice, building bridges between corporate interests and social value, providing the ideal launchpad for your professional journey. Building your expertise from the ground up, in this role, you won't just sit behind a desk, you will actively help shape, protect, and promote our reputation as a responsible, quality-driven, and sustainable business. Spanning across CSR, Corporate Communications, and Public Affairs, you will get hands-on experience in community initiatives, brand reputation, and political engagement accelerating your growth from day one.

  The process will also include a video interview and face-to-face assessment centre held in our Head Office in Tolworth on 16/12/2026. We look forward to receiving your application.

What you'll do

Throughout your programme, you will spend your first 12 months rotating around the 3 core areas of the Corporate Affairs team, where you will then specialise in 1 for the remainder of your programme:

• CSR & Sustainability: Work within our Corporate Sustainability (CSR) Team responsible for guiding the organisation on a clear and sustainable path for growth. Play a key role in sustainability governance, supporting annual reporting and quarterly business updates. Coordinate with national charity partners and support community-led initiatives and grant programmes with large-scale customer impact. Deliver in-person CSR workshops and upskilling sessions and collate data for national social and environmental reporting. Support sustainability projects, helping the business to reduce operational waste and reduce its scope 1 & 2 emissions.

• Corporate Communications & Reputation: Actively manage, protect, and promote Lidl's reputation as a responsible, quality-driven, performance-based, and sustainable company that puts colleagues first. Refresh, review, and create internal and external content to ensure engaging, transparent, and impactful storytelling. Support in monitoring our busy press office, responding to enquiries from the media and building relationships internally to identify potential storytelling opportunities. Assist in compiling and developing documents, including press releases, presentations, briefs, letters, colleague communication, and background research.

• Public Affairs: Work with the Public Affairs Team to enhance Lidl's reputation and influence across Westminster and the devolved nations. Horizon scan for regulatory movements from Government that could impact the organisation. Co-manage the policy priority areas to ensure business preparedness, ensuring alignment and seamless communication flow to internal stakeholders. Support the delivery of strategic communications campaigns, including collateral development, stakeholder mapping, and forward planning.

What you'll need

• Achieved or 2:2 or higher in a Bachelor's Degree
• Are eligible to work in the UK on a full-time basis and able to provide proof when required
• Able to commute/relocate within a reasonable commute to our Head Office in Tolworth, South West London
• Evidence you genuinely care about people and the planet (e.g., volunteering, raising money for charity, or being an active member of a community)
• Able to manage multiple deadlines, through a previous leadership position
• Strong written communication skills, high attention to detail, and a proactive, inquisitive mindset
• Confidence in presenting ideas, communicating with influence, and building strong relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders

What you'll receive

• 10% in-store discount
• Pro-rata holiday allowance
• Enhanced professional development and mentoring
• A chance to work on high-profile projects that impact local communities nationwide
• Plus, more of the perks you deserve
• plus an additional 10% non-contractual London Weighting allowance

We're Lidl like us. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. Join us to celebrate individuality and grow in a fair, respectful, and inclusive environment.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date. This is to ensure our teams can manage application levels while maintaining a positive candidate experience. Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.