A 'blueprint' for tackling youth unemployment - McDonald's CPO on launching UK's largest work experience scheme

McDonald’s has launched a nationwide work experience scheme to help tackle youth unemployment, in a move its HR chief says could be a “blueprint” for other employers.

The programme – the largest of its kind in the UK – will commence in July, offering 2,500 young people a paid, in-person placement lasting five days.

Successful applicants will receive both real-world business experience and training in vital career skills such as interview techniques.

It comes as the number of young people in the UK who are NEET nears one million.

Speaking exclusively to HR Grapevine, James Thorne, Chief People Officer at McDonald’s UK&I, says youth unemployment is a “challenge for society,” but notes he is “really proud” of how fast food giant is embracing its responsibility as an employer to help tackle the problem.

McDonald’s launches UK’s largest work experience programme

The work experience programme was created in response to McDonald’s UK’s inaugural Youth Confidence Index, run in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives.

According to the study of over 1,500 young people, two-thirds (67%) said that while they would love to do work experience, there are not enough opportunities for them to do so.

Reflecting on the study, Haroon Chowdry, Chief Executive at the Centre for Young Lives, says young people want to work, but lack help and support.

“It is possible to turn the tide on the number of young NEETs, but this will require joint ambition and action from the whole of government – not just DWP, but also schools, colleges, local authorities, health, family hubs, and youth support,” he explains.

“It also relies on employers stepping up,” Chowdry states. “Which is why we welcome today's announcement from McDonald's that will unlock new opportunities for thousands of young people across the country.”

Youth unemployment - an employer’s ‘responsibility’

Thorne says that McDonald’s takes its responsibility to help tackle youth unemployment seriously, working “hand in glove” with the government by offering the right opportunities to job seekers.

“We have a responsibility, and I think we need to start at home,” he argues. “Like all employers, we have to look at what we can practically do, however big or small that might be.”

“I think about my two children at four and six, and their future – I don't want them to come into a workplace where it's really hard to get on the ladder,” Thorne continues. “Based on the research we've done, we know that every little effort will help those young people get a foot in the door of their future workplaces and get their own careers going.”

McDonald’s employs over 100,000 people aged between 16 and 24 across the UK. One third of its managers are aged under 25.

The latest initiative will see more than 500 restaurants offer over 2,500 work experience placements this year.

“We research where we can have the biggest impact when it comes to the communities we operate in,” the CPO explains. “It was clear that with nearly a million young people not in work or education, there was a massive gap.”

“We're uniquely placed to support them,” Thorne adds. “We've developed a lot of young people in our time, and our proximity means we are in most communities. Most people are near enough to McDonald's to get there and benefit from the experience.”

Paid placements that build skills & confidence

When asked to select the ways employers could help them enter the workforce, those surveyed in the Youth Confidence Index selected paying a fair wage (38%), being more open to hiring young people (38%), and offering work experience (37%) as the top options.

Accordingly, McDonald’s work experience is fully paid, in line with the existing rates for the company's entry level roles.