McDonald's to create 2,500 new jobs

Fast food giant McDonald's will create at least 2,500 new UK jobs this year, it announced today.

The burger chain expects more than a half of the new posts to go to young people and around 30% to first-time workers.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg welcomed the announcement and praised the company for its record on staff training.

The Prime Minister said: "I am delighted to welcome McDonald's announcement of new jobs.

"McDonald's has a great record in investing in the UK and providing excellent training, apprenticeships and opportunities for its staff."

The Deputy Prime Minister is visiting a McDonald's training centre in East Finchley, north London, to meet staff training for apprenticeships and other qualifications.

He said: "It is fantastic news that McDonald's is creating 2,500 new jobs in the UK - and that over half of these posts will go to young people.

"McDonald's has an excellent reputation for developing its staff with training and apprenticeship programmes.

"This invests valuable time and resources to help young people, with little or no experience in the world of work, to develop their skills and confidence.

"In the end, that gives young people a terrific opportunity to move up within the company, or use their experience and training to move into other jobs.

"It's a telling fact that half of McDonald's current board have progressed from the shop floor to the top floor, having started their careers serving customers in the restaurant."

The new jobs build on the 13,500 posts McDonald's has created over the last three years and take the UK staff count to 90,000.

Jill McDonald, chief executive officer of McDonald's UK, said: "Despite these difficult economic conditions, our continued emphasis on good quality food at affordable prices, and improving the experience for our customers and our people, has meant that we are able to continue to invest in the business and create jobs.

"Today's job market is particularly tough for young people so it remains vital that these jobs continue to offer great training programmes that teach the valued, transferable skills that will give them a solid footing on the career ladder and help them to progress their careers with us or other employers."

During his visit to McDonald's UK headquarters in north London, where he met apprentices training with the fast food chain, Mr Clegg said the Government was "straining every sinew" to get young people into work.

"I think we need to play our part as well. That is why the Government is expanding apprenticeships, particularly for young people, on a scale that we have not seen in a generation," he said.

"That is why, from April, we are implementing the Youth Contract, a £1 billion Government programme that means that every single 18- to 24-year-old who is out of work will have the opportunity to earn or learn, including Government providing money to employers to subsidise employment for young people.

"We are straining every sinew, but at the same time it is great to see that good employers like McDonald's, who really invest in young people and give them the opportunity to take up qualifications and rise through the ranks, are also significantly expanding the number of young people they take on."

PA