A recruitment firm says the new A-level offered by fast food giant McDonald's is a good way to gain a qualification.

The fast food chain, which has four branches in Swindon, is to offer its own nationally recognised qualification from this week.

It will offer a basic shift manager course, training staff in skills such as human resources and marketing.

Linda Taylor, the director of Storm Recruitment, in Commercial Road, said: "This seems to be an excellent way for young people who might have left school with little or no qualifications to get a nationally recognised qualification.

"As an agency we would certainly look upon this qualification favourably."

Swindon McDonald's franchisee Paul Booth said: "This is an important development for McDonald's nationally, but it's also critical to Swindon's competitiveness.

"It means opportunities here and across the south west, offering learning and training, the chance to earn a decent wage, gain a qualification and contribute to a rewarding career."

James Cottrell, the manager of the McDonald's restaurant in Asda, in West Swindon, said: "I think it's great that our training programme will be externally recognised - it's time McDonald's got the credit it's due.

"Learning things for real and putting them into practice is so much better than just sitting in a classroom, so I think our qualifications will really count.

"I started as a crew member and so I am living proof that McDonald's training programme works.

"For the company to receive Government approval is the icing on the cake."

Other companies in the area have said they have no plans to offer a similar in-house qualification.

Zurich, which has a training centre in Foxhill, runs two graduate schemes and offers other training.

Nationwide, which has its head office on Pipers Way, runs a development curve for all employees, which includes workshops and intranet skills modules.

A spokeswoman for RWE npower, based in Whitehill Way, said that although it had no plans to introduce a special qualification there was always room for growth and development.