On the launch of Apprenticeship Week, run by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), Amy Johnson has become the latest McDonald’s employee to be awarded an Apprenticeship in Hospitality, taking the total number of qualified McDonald's apprentices to 3,000.
Launched in 2009, McDonald's apprenticeship programme has become one of the largest in the UK. As its scale has grown, a diverse range of employees have enrolled in the scheme, and are using the qualification to return to learning or complement their academic studies. More than 8,000 employees are working towards their apprenticeship in addition to the 3,000 staff who have completed the qualification.
As the popularity of McDonald's programme grows, the learning bug is proving contagious – more and more employees are signing up as they see their colleagues complete the qualification and gain skills and confidence. Within London, McDonald's employs 190 qualified apprentices in its restaurants, while there are 150 working in its 10 Nottingham restaurants. The McDonald's apprenticeship is also proving particularly popular in Glasgow, Liverpool Manchester, Blackpool and Leeds.
One such employee is Amy Johnson, 18, Nottingham, who joined McDonald’s while studying towards her A-Levels at school, looking to earn a little while she learned. After a few months, Amy chose to concentrate on her career at McDonald’s, becoming a full-time staff member. Amy was encouraged by her restaurant manager to get involved with the Apprenticeship Programme last year.
Amy said: “The Apprenticeship Scheme was a really good alternative to A-Levels for me. It’s more relevant for me and on-the-job training means you can see the purpose for studying. It’s made me feel much more confident. There are a lot of challenges to cope with day-to-day in the restaurant, but now I feel like I can take anything on.
“Soon I’d like to become a crew trainer, helping other people get their qualifications too. Then I’ll become a shift manager and go on to take the management diploma.”
Jez Langhorn, Vice President, McDonald’s UK, said:
“At McDonald’s we’re committed to creating opportunities for our people that help them achieve their full potential. Over the last five years we’ve extended this philosophy to recognise our employees’ skills and training with transferable, nationally recognised qualifications.
“The training and development opportunities we provide have enabled thousands of our people to gain valuable qualifications every year, from apprenticeships right through to Foundation Degrees.
“Traditional lines between education and employment are blurring, and young people no longer want to choose between the two and we believe that businesses like ours have a responsibility to meet these demands. As a result, we have created an approach that works well for our people, our business and our sector”.
McDonald’s employs 85,000 people across the UK and has pledged to create 3,000 new jobs this year. It has a proven track record of investing in the development of its people and offering flexibility as part of its commitment to being a modern and progressive employer. The apprenticeship programme forms part of its annual £36 million investment in training that offers employees access to a full range of nationally recognised qualifications. The Apprenticeship in Hospitality is open to all staff and incorporates basic skills qualifications in English and Maths, a Level 2 NVQ in multi-skilled hospitality and transferable workplace skills.
The company was awarded a Grade 2 (good) Ofsted rating, with several areas Graded 1 (outstanding) for its Apprenticeship Programme, just 18 months after it was launched.
