Corporate Affairs Graduate Programme (Hiring Immediately)

LIDL; Thames Ditton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% in-store discount

Pro-rata holiday allowance

Enhanced professional development and-

Mentoring and career growth

Job summary

Lidl invites graduates to join its 23-month Corporate Affairs Graduate Scheme, based at the Tolworth Head Office in South West London. You will rotate across CSR & Sustainability, Corporate Communications, and Public Affairs, gaining hands-on experience shaping our reputation and social impact.

You will engage with stakeholders, support sustainability reporting, monitor media activity, and contribute to policy initiatives, with ongoing mentoring and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree 2:2 or higher.
• Eligible to work in the UK on a full-time basis.
• Able to commute/relocate to Tolworth, SW London.
• Evidence of caring about people and the planet (volunteering, charity, community).
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines from a leadership role.
• Strong written communication and high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Spend the first 12 months rotating across three core areas of Corporate Affairs.
• Specialise in CSR & Sustainability, Corporate Communications, or Public Affairs for the remainder of the programme.
• Support in sustainability governance, press activity, stakeholder engagement, and policy initiatives.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Project management

Attention to detail

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree (2:2+)

Job description

Job Description£40,000 pro rata

Contract Details

• 23 month Fixed Term Contract
• 30 days holiday (pro rata)
• 10% in-store discount

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/#####.

What you'll do

• Spend the first 12 months rotating around the 3 core areas of the Corporate Affairs team, 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 comms 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 value diversity, equity, and inclusion, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. Join us to celebrate individuality and grow in a fair, respectful, and inclusive environment.