- McDonald's becomes latest supporter of government's drive to
get more young people earning or learning
- Government welcomes employer's support as it continues to
create opportunity for young people and reform the system from
welfare to work
- Employer's new work experience programme to support 2,500
young people to take their first step in their career, with jobs
ranging from restaurant to head office roles.
Young people across the United Kingdom are set to benefit after
McDonald's becomes the latest major employer to support the
Government's Youth Guarantee and launches the biggest work
experience programme in the country.
From August, McDonald's will roll out 2,500 paid work experience
placements across the country, with 625 places ring-fenced for
young people most at risk of dropping out of education and work.
Placements will span the full breadth of its business, from
restaurants to corporate head office roles, giving young people
five days of hands-on experience across a range of careers, with
a guaranteed interview at the end.
As it launched its work experience programme, McDonald's has also
announced its support for the Youth Guarantee, which tackles
youth unemployment by helping young people take their first steps
into the world of work. In doing so, McDonald's follows in the
footsteps of other major employers including the Premier League,
Channel 4 and Pinewood Studios.
To mark this support, Work and Pensions Secretary visited McDonald's UK Headquarters and met young
people benefiting from the company's employment programmes.
Work and Pensions Secretary said:
“We're tackling youth unemployment head on by backing young
people with the skills and support they need, while working with
employers to open more doors.
“McDonald's have a strong track record of supporting and training
up young people, and it is fantastic to see them using their
position to help even more overcome barriers and set them up for
successful careers.
“This shows what's possible when Government and business help
young people into work."
The Youth Guarantee offers a range of support to help address the
crisis of almost a million young people not in education,
employment or training (NEET), including subsidised work for
eligible young people through the Jobs Guarantee, apprenticeship
opportunities and Youth Hubs providing employment advice.
The new programme from McDonald's will ensure one in four
placements are prioritised for those most at risk of becoming
NEET and builds on its strong track record as one of the UK's
biggest employers of young people, with over 100,000 employees
under 25 and one in three managers under the age of 25.
With McDonald's using its scale and presence on high streets and
in communities across the UK, young people will gain practical
skills in teamwork, communication, resilience and timekeeping.
Lauren Schultz, CEO of McDonald's UK & Ireland,
said:
“At McDonald's, we believe in the potential and ability of
young people and want to help them make it. With over 100,000
employees under 25 across the UK, we have the reach to make a
real difference and are uniquely positioned to open doors at
scale.
“Everything a young person needs to learn about the world of
work, from communication to financial skills, can be mastered at
McDonald's. By helping thousands gain this exposure and build
confidence, we will provide a genuine pathway into employment
that is currently lacking. We hope this will lead the way for
others in our industry to follow and help tackle this
crisis.”
The latest support comes as the Government has ramped up action
to tackle rising youth unemployment through its £2.5 billion
additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and Growth and
Skills Levy reforms, which will unlock up to 200,000 jobs and
apprenticeship opportunities.
The pack of major reforms includes a Youth Jobs Grant worth
£3,000 for employers for every young person they hire aged 18-24
who has been on UC for six months, an expanded Jobs Guarantee
offering subsidised work for eligible 18-to-24-year-olds, and new
foundation apprenticeships in key sectors, including
hospitality.
On top of this, the government is continuing its commitment to
delivering Youth Hubs to every local area in Great Britain to
establish a national network and address the almost one million
young people not earning or learning – a rise of 248,000 between
2021 to 2024 – so that every young person can progress wherever
they live.
Alongside these measures, JobHelp
provides young people with free, practical support to navigate
their job search from CV tips and interview guidance to training
opportunities and government support all in one place.
Together, these measures are designed to reverse the rise in
young people not in education, employment or training, ensuring
more young people can access meaningful work, build skills for
the future, and contribute to a growing economy.
Ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Businesses interested in supporting the Youth Guarantee,
either by providing work experience, training or employment
opportunities, should visit business.gov.uk/recruit.
