The pilot was a huge success and has enabled Lidl GB to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in terms of cost-saving and learner impact. The rollout of the Cash Processes topic to the control group of 101 learners demonstrated a 58% reduction in learner seat time.
In comparison, the classroom program required 32.5 hours from learners, store managers and mentors – whereas the new online-led training enabled learners to reach competency with just 15 hours of time invested. This reduction of 19.5 hours equates to an immediate cost saving of £55,000 for the evaluation pilot alone.
Early indications suggest this time reduction is being repeated across the remaining 13 regions where this training is being rolled out, meaning Lidl GB can expect to save £715,000 on this topic alone.

A conservative estimate of the time reduction offered by the remaining modules equates to a total projected cost saving of £2.5m. In terms of learning effectiveness, the aim was to ensure that any time-saving did not impact learners’ understanding of the material and their ability to do their job. However, the pilot found that this new approach actually improved pass rates.
Lidl GB’s evaluation pilot saw the number of learners scoring 85% on the final assessment increase from 55% to 71%. With a pass mark of 50%, seeing a large group of learners attain these levels gives the business more confidence that fewer errors will be made in-store. The assessments used the same set of questions to ensure this data set was comparable.

This effectiveness was also reflected in the qualitative feedback gathered from the pilot group which emphasized that not only was this program more effective than the classroom training but also preferred by learners.
Learners highlighted the flexibility that the program offered as a key reason for this preference with trainee shift managers able to fit this learning around their day-to-day work. Adjustments to the way Lidl GB used store managers in this program – particularly with a piece of learning emphasizing what was expected of them – also made a significant difference to learners’ experience.
The new Shift Manager Training program has set a new standard for how learning is delivered at Lidl. It is a perfect demonstration of how online and practical in-person experiences can be combined to create more effective learning.
The Shift Manager Training program won Gold for ‘External Learning Solution of the Year’ at The Learning Awards 2023 as well as Bronze for ‘Best Learning Technologies Project – Commercial Sector’ at the Learning Technologies Awards 2022.