The fast food chain has been licensed to provide training and to set their own curriculum to train employees. To start with it will offer a "Basic Shift Manager" certificate which will include staff training, human resources and marketing.
McDonald's chief people officer, David Fairhurst said that this approach would provide real opportunities and social mobility.
In 2007 this fast food company campaigned to change the image of those employed at McDonald's. The word "McJob" has entered the dictionary in UK and the definition is: "an unstimulating low-paid job with few prospects."
Government
skills secretary John Denham said this new scheme would give credit to
companies offering training programs and apprenticeships. It has
already been extended to air travel company Flybe and Network Rail.
This
sounds like a good idea to give young people qualifications and skills
but there are already courses available in schools and colleges that
offer these opportunities. Students on these courses have to dedicate
themselves to achieving the required standards. Imagine how they will
feel when others are working in McDonald's and getting qualifications
that are considered equivalent to advanced level certificates for doing
that.
Employers faced with applicants with equal
qualifications are unlikely to recognize a certificate awarded by
McDonald's as acceptable. This seems to be a joint effort between
McDonald's need to make recruiting easier by offering an incentive, and
the UK governments drive to improve skills among young people.
