Cameron and Clegg praise McDonald's as it creates 2,500 new UK jobs

Tuesday, 24 January 2012 09:24

Fast food chain McDonald’s has announced that it plans to create 2,500 new jobs in the UK this year.

More than half of the new jobs will be for young people and the company expects about 30 per cent of the posts to go to first-time employees.

The Prime Minister praised McDonald’s for the initiative and its record on staff training. Mr Cameron 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."

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is visiting a McDonald’s training centre in North London 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."

A recent report by McDonald’s on their economic footprint in Europe claims that the company contributed €9.5 billion to the European economy in 2010 and that 82 per cent of McDonald’s European workforce receives 40 hours of training a year.

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."

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