Sainsbury’s Work Experience: Could Your Teen Get One of 10,000 Places?

Getting that first bit of experience on a CV can be difficult when an employer wants experience before giving someone their first chance to get any. A new Sainsbury’s work experience programme aims to tackle some of that problem by creating around 10,000 work experience and employability opportunities for young people over the next year. The first activities are expected to begin in October.

For parents of teenagers, or young adults trying to get a first job, the useful part of the announcement is that this is broader than spending a week stacking shelves in a supermarket. Sainsbury’s says participants could get experience across stores, logistics, food, technology and other areas of the business, alongside help with CVs, interviews and job applications.

What Is the New Sainsbury’s Work Experience Programme?

Sainsbury’s is calling its own programme KickStarter, with different routes depending on the participant’s age. It forms part of a wider Modern Work Experience Programme being developed with organisations including The Careers & Enterprise Company and the Institute of Grocery Distribution.

It is worth pointing out that this is Sainsbury’s own KickStarter programme and should not be confused with the previous government Kickstart Scheme. The new programme is focused on giving young people workplace exposure, employability support and contact with employers before they have built up much previous work experience.

The government says the programme will initially focus particularly on communities where young people face greater barriers to employment, including areas with higher levels of free school meal uptake. The programme is being promoted across England, Scotland and Wales.

Who Can Apply for Sainsbury’s Work Experience?

There are 2 main Sainsbury’s KickStarter routes, covering young people from age 14 through to 24. The type of experience available depends on age and whether the young person is taking part through school or seeking employability support as an older teenager or young adult.

KickStarter Explore: Ages 14 to 18

KickStarter Explore is aimed at young people aged 14 to 18 and combines school-based learning with practical work experience. Sainsbury’s says more than 5,000 places will be delivered through this part of the programme, which has been developed with The School Outreach Company.

The idea is to introduce younger participants to the workplace before they are necessarily ready to apply for a permanent job. They may get the chance to visit workplaces, meet employees and learn about jobs across retail and related areas while building skills that can later go onto a CV.

That could be particularly useful alongside some of the things I already suggest in my guide to helping a teenager write a CV without previous job experience. Work experience gives a young person something concrete to talk about when they are eventually applying for weekend, summer or part-time work.

KickStarter Insights: Ages 16 to 24

KickStarter Insights is aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 and has a stronger focus on preparing for job applications. The regional sessions are expected to cover communication, interviews, CV writing, applications and planning the next step into work.

Sainsbury’s says more than 200 places will initially be delivered through KickStarter Insights. It is being run with Sainsbury’s Early Careers team, Movement to Work and specialist partner Aim a Little Higher, while additional opportunities will come through the wider pilot programme.

This is slightly different from a conventional job vacancy because the immediate goal is improving employability rather than recruiting everyone taking part. Young people looking for actual vacancies should still check the Sainsbury’s careers site separately.

What Will Young People Actually Do?

The programme is designed to give participants contact with real workplaces rather than relying entirely on classroom careers advice. Sainsbury’s says activities will include workplace visits, careers sessions, practical experience and help with CVs, interviews and applications.

Depending on the programme and location, participants could get exposure to work in stores, depots and offices, including areas such as logistics, food and technology. Sainsbury’s has described examples including store tours, meeting employees and seeing how products move through the business from suppliers to shelves.

For someone with little or nothing on their employment history, that experience can be useful even if it doesn’t immediately lead to a Sainsbury’s job. It gives them something recent and workplace-related to discuss on applications and at interviews, rather than trying to answer every question using school examples alone.

Is Sainsbury’s Work Experience Paid?

Neither the government announcement nor Sainsbury’s announcement says that these 10,000 opportunities are paid jobs. They are described as work experience and employability opportunities, so I wouldn’t assume that participants will receive wages unless the individual programme information specifically states otherwise.

That matters because some reports about the programme can easily sound as though Sainsbury’s is recruiting 10,000 new employees. It isn’t promising 10,000 permanent jobs, and taking part does not appear to guarantee employment afterwards.

If earning money now is the priority rather than building experience, it may be more useful to look alongside the programme for genuine part-time vacancies. I have a separate guide to summer and part-time jobs for 14 to 16-year-olds which explains some of the options and age restrictions.

Why Is the Government Backing the Programme?

The announcement forms part of a wider government push to connect education with employers and address the number of young people who are outside work and education. A recent government review found that 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment or training at the end of 2025, equivalent to around one in 8 young people.

The same review found that around 62% of young people in that group reported never having had a paid job. That does not mean lack of work experience is the sole cause of youth unemployment, but it does show why access to a first workplace can matter.

Separate DWP research also found that 67% of surveyed young people who were not in education, employment or training felt the curriculum did not prepare people for work. That helps explain why programmes covering applications, interviews and direct contact with employers are being given more attention.

How Do You Apply for Sainsbury’s Work Experience?

The route depends on which part of the programme you are interested in. Marketing and registration activity is due to begin in September 2026, with the first KickStarter events expected from October.

For KickStarter Explore, schools are being encouraged to register through The School Outreach Company.

The contact email address is Sainsburys@school-outreach.com, so parents of 14 to 18-year-olds may need to speak to their school or careers team rather than applying directly themselves.

For KickStarter Insights, young people aged 16 to 24 can register interest through Sainsbury’s Early Careers team at early.careers@sainsburys.co.uk. I would also keep an eye on Sainsbury’s careers information as the programme develops, because further information and opportunities may be added.

Will Every Area Get Sainsbury’s Work Experience Places?

Not necessarily. The programme is described as UK-wide across England, Scotland and Wales, but it will focus particularly on communities where Sainsbury’s and its partners believe young people face greater barriers to employment.

That means having a Sainsbury’s nearby does not automatically mean your local store will offer one of the placements. The exact locations, dates and number of places available locally will depend on how the programme is rolled out.

If a young person does not get a place, there are still other ways to build early work experience. Volunteering, school activities and part-time employment can all give someone useful examples to put on a first CV, and the key is being able to explain what they did and what skills they gained.

How Does This Compare With Other Retail Career Schemes?

Sainsbury’s is not the only large retailer putting more resources into helping young people get into work. M&S has also announced 1,000 training places for young people through its Not Just Any Career programme, which I covered in my guide to the M&S training places for young people.

The schemes are not identical, so I wouldn’t choose between them solely on the headline number of places. Age requirements, location, whether the programme involves paid employment and what participants actually receive should all be checked before applying.

For a young person unsure about university or struggling to get that first employer reference, these programmes are worth watching alongside apprenticeships and genuine entry-level vacancies. One programme may give them the first line on a CV that makes the next application easier.

Is the Sainsbury’s Work Experience Programme Worth Considering?

If the alternative is having no workplace experience at all, there is little downside to checking whether an appropriate programme is available locally, particularly for a teenager approaching their first applications. The strongest part of the scheme is that it includes practical experience alongside help with applications and interviews rather than treating work experience as an isolated week in a workplace.

I would still approach it with realistic expectations. These are work experience and employability opportunities rather than guaranteed jobs, so anyone taking part should use the experience to strengthen their CV, ask questions, make contacts and learn more about the sort of work they might want to pursue next.

If you or your teenager is interested, the useful step now is to check which of the 2 KickStarter routes applies, speak to the school careers team where relevant and register interest before the first events begin in October.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is Sainsbury’s work experience for?

Sainsbury’s KickStarter Explore is aimed at young people aged 14 to 18, while KickStarter Insights is for ages 16 to 24. The type of activity and application route differs between the 2 programmes.

How many Sainsbury’s work experience places are available?

Sainsbury’s says its Modern Work Experience Programme and related pilot will create around 10,000 work experience and employability opportunities over the next year. The opportunities will be delivered through several different parts of the programme rather than one single placement scheme.

When does Sainsbury’s work experience start?

Promotion and registration activity begins in September, with the first KickStarter Explore and KickStarter Insights activities expected to start in October. Availability will vary by location and programme.

Is Sainsbury’s work experience paid?

The published announcements do not state that the 10,000 work experience and employability opportunities are paid. Check the terms of the specific opportunity before taking part rather than assuming wages are included.

Does Sainsbury’s work experience guarantee you a job?

No job guarantee has been announced. The programme is intended to provide work experience, workplace skills and help preparing for applications and interviews.

How do I apply for Sainsbury’s KickStarter?

Schools interested in KickStarter Explore can contact Sainsburys@school-outreach.com. People interested in KickStarter Insights can contact the Sainsbury’s Early Careers team at early.careers@sainsburys.co.uk.

Can you apply if you are 14?

Yes. KickStarter Explore is designed for young people aged 14 to 18, although participation is being organised with schools, so speak to your school or careers team about availability.