11:00am Friday 19th March 2010
By Emma Streatfield
YOUNG people in Swindon can get a taster of the fast food industry and gain an academic qualification in the process.
The town’s McDonald’s restaurants are among the first of 1,200 franchises across the country to offer work experience placements that give participants the opportunity to gain a GCSE-equivalent qualification.
The BTEC level two in work skills is accredited by awarding body EdExcel and Swindon McDonald’s franchisee Paul Booth is the first local employer to offer it.
He said: “We’re raising the bar on work experience with this new alignment to a nationally-recognised qualification at a time when young people particularly need it.
“When they come to my restaurants for work experience, whether it’s just for two weeks or longer, we aim to help build their confidence and give them a valuable taste of working in a team in a fast-paced, business environment.
“They’ll complete their placement with a great set of all-round skills for any workplace, and a national qualification to increase their employability.”
The qualification, which began running last Thursday, is worth one GCSE B to C grade and is open to anyone aged between 14 and 19.
It requires each participant to complete a 10-day placement, which covers teamwork, communication skills, assessment and gives the individual mock interview practice at the start and finish of the placement.
The work experience pupil must then complete the remaining fifth of the module in their normal school environment.
Mr Booth said his work experience students are treated the same and given the same initial training as trainee staff including interaction with customers and work in the kitchen.
This announcement comes as a survey commissioned by McDonald’s revealed that 54 per cent of teenagers asked believed there are not enough quality placements available.
Of these, 81 per cent felt that employers are failing young people as a result. Placements have been available in the Swindon restaurants since 2001, but Mr Booth felt it was necessary to formalise the process.
He said: “I think it’s an opportunity to get some real life work experience before they finish their schooling.
“I wouldn’t say it is tough but it’s important that’s it’s structured and that we’re professional. They wouldn’t want to be coming along for the work experience and finish up thinking ‘I haven’t enjoyed it’ or that wasn’t worthwhile.”
Mr Booth said he hoped it would also give candidates a better knowledge of what working for the company is like and whether they would like to pursue that as a career.
Anyone interested in work experience at McDonald’s should apply online.
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