Lidl Announce 180 New Jobs Across NI

Lidl have announced the creation of 180 new local jobs in a variety of roles across its 41 Northern Irish stores.

Alongside the jobs announcement, the company has announced that it will be awarding pay increases worth £1.5 million to all employees in recognition of their efforts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new roles are being created to support Lidl Northern Ireland's growing footprint that will see the retailer increase its store count to 50 by the end of the decade and will expand the retailer's workforce to over 1,300 employees.

The new jobs announcement is in addition to a recruitment drive last year of more than 300 roles and affirms Lidl Northern Ireland's established position as the region's fastest-growing supermarket. Successful candidates will be offered Lidl's market-leading benefits packages and award-winning learning and development opportunities within the business.

Also confirmed today, the retailer is investing £1.5 million in additional pay increases to all of its employees which will take effect from March 1.

Lidl Northern Ireland has already paid more than £300,000 in Covid-19 bonuses to all employees throughout the pandemic in recognition of their efforts, commitment and dedication during a challenging period. In November 2021, the company committed again to paying the new recommended Living Wage, exceeding the advisory rate by a further 20p to £10.10 for more than 450 employees and building on its commitment to fair pay for all employees. Lidl became the first nationwide retailer on the island of Ireland to introduce this back in 2015.

Welcoming the latest investments by Lidl Northern Ireland, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said:

"Lidl Northern Ireland's announcement to hire an additional 180 employees this year is testament to its success here as a leading retailer and employer and will provide a huge boost for the wider retail sector and local economy. The variety of roles available will cater to a wide range of candidates with different skill sets and underlines Lidl's commitment to the region and to delivering on its growth ambitions.

"I'm also delighted to learn that Lidl Northern Ireland is investing a further £1.5 million in pay increases for employees. It is encouraging to see Lidl Northern Ireland leading the way in supporting its staff and I'd like to extend my congratulations to the entire Lidl Northern Ireland team and I look forward to this next phase of growth."

Maeve McCleane, Director of Human Resources at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland said: "We are delighted to continue to invest in our expansion in Northern Ireland and continue to growing our team further in 2022 with 180 new roles. Our most important asset has always been our people who are the bedrock of our business, which is why we have prioritised building an exceptional place to work.

"For more than two decades, Lidl Northern Ireland has cemented its position locally as an employer of choice, most recently being awarded Retail Company of the Year. We are pleased to underscore our commitment in maintaining that position with a significant additional £1.5 million investment in pay increases as well as offering the most competitive and all-encompassing suite of benefits in the jobs market at present.

"Recognising hard work, rewarding success, and celebrating achievements have always been at the core of Lidl Northern Ireland's people strategy and we're pleased to be in a position to further recognise the efforts that our frontline and support teams make every day, particularly as an essential business throughout the pandemic."