Sainsbury's will offer work experience to 10,000 young people aged 14 and over across England, Scotland and Wales under a new scheme designed to help address youth unemployment.
The initiatives, which will launch in October 2026, will allow candidates to go behind the scenes at stores and meet staff from departments including technology, logistics and food.
Participants will observe how fresh produce travels from farm to fork while receiving guidance on drafting CVs, handling interviews and completing job applications.
Two work experience schemes launching in October 2026
The scheme is split into two separate age categories. KickStarter Insights is tailored for 16 to 24-year-olds and features one-day regional employability workshops focused on job applications and interview preparation.
Young people interested in joining KickStarter Insights must register directly by sending an email to [email protected].
The second programme, KickStart Explore, targets school students aged 14 to 18. It combines classroom learning with practical work experience, providing around 24 hours of instruction per student through in-school workshops, digital sessions and store visits.
Students cannot apply individually for KickStart Explore because participation is arranged directly through schools. Sainsbury's will focus the scheme on schools with higher rates of free school meal uptake and communities where young adults experience significant obstacles to finding employment.
The supermarket company confirmed it will pay for lunch and travel costs for all participants taking part in the programmes.
Chief executive underlines commitment to young workers
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury's, said: "Few things matter more to us at Sainsbury’s than helping young people get on that first rung on the career ladder. With a quarter of our colleagues under 25, we see every day how much a first job can change lives."
Sainsbury's is one of the largest supermarket chains in the United Kingdom, employing tens of thousands of retail, supply chain and corporate workers across its retail network.
Rising youth worklessness and employer survey findings
The scheme comes as findings from the Work Foundation, a think-tank based at Lancaster University, report a challenging employment outlook for young adults across the country.
Research by the organisation shows that 36 per cent of businesses have reduced the number of entry-level jobs available to 16 to 24-year-olds over the past year.
Furthermore, 73 per cent of business leaders consider the growth in youth worklessness to be a national crisis. Official figures show more than one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK are currently classified as NEET, meaning they are not in employment, education or training.
Alternative entry routes and apprenticeship options
Apprenticeships present another debt-free route into employment across multiple sectors, ranging from trade skills to degree-level corporate roles in industries such as finance and pharmaceuticals. Depending on the scheme, entry requirements range from GCSEs to A-Levels.
Other major employers actively hiring for trainee and entry-level positions include the police force, HSBC and Octopus Energy. These employers offer paid training programmes, recognised qualifications and starting salaries reaching up to £42,210 per year for jobs that do not require a university degree.
