The credentials of being a McEmployer

In January 2009, McDonald's announced it would provide Apprenticeships to up to 6,000 of its 72,000 UK workforce and then up to 10,000 per year from 2010, providing staff with the opportunity to gain a valuable, nationally recognised qualification equivalent to five GCSEs grade A*-C. In January 2008 McDonald's was given awarding body status, meaning it is able to develop and award its own qualifications. The first qualification that McDonald's is offering is an A level equivalent, a Diploma in Shift Management McDonald's dedicated employee website 'Our Lounge' provides everything from online shift scheduling, to career and lifestyle advice and an online learning programme that leads to nationally-recognised GCSE-equivalent qualifications in Maths and English. In 2006 an independent study by Adrian Furnham, Professor for Psychology, University College London, showed that employment at McDonald's has a positive transformative effect on young people compared to other jobs, boosting their confidence, communication skills and career prospects. In 2004 research by the Work Foundation found that 60% of a typical franchised restaurant's annual £1.5 million turnover – around £900,000 - stays local and generates a further £2.2 million of local spending 95% of restaurant management and one in five franchisees started as crew The average tenure for a McDonald's restaurant manager is over 11 years. McDonald's was recognised by The Great Place to Work Institute as one of the top 50 Best Workplaces in the UK in both 2007, 2008 and 2009 and was one of only five organisations with more than 10,000 employees to be included. In 2005 McDonald's became the first large employer to achieve the new Investor in People Profile status and in 2009 achieved GOLD status. McDonald's is one of The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers for the tenth consecutive year. McDonald's was listed in 'Britain's Top Employers 2007, 2008 and 2009' rankings. McDonald's has been listed as one of the Times 'Top 50 Companies Where Women Want to Work' for three consecutive years, since 2006. McDonald's was named 'Best Place to Work in Hospitality' in both 2007 and 2008.