Awarding body OCR is working with McDonald's on an interactive and online scheme which will see up to 1,000 of the fast food chain's employees achieve OCR Basic Skills qualifications in the next twelve months.
The new web-based initiative is being implemented by McDonald's to enable the company's 67,000 UK staff to log on and plug skills gaps. It is the first employer accreditation scheme to receive a special commendation for commitment to training by the Learning and Skills Council.
Under the initiative, approximately one in six McDonald's restaurants will offer the OCR Basic Skills qualifications enabling employees to sit the test on-site. The learning is delivered through an e-learning platform developed by OCR's partners, Tribal CTAD, on the company's internet site - Our Lounge. Tests will be taken in training rooms at the restaurants, away from public areas and under normal examination conditions.
OCR's Mary Bennett, says: "With over seven million adults in the UK experiencing reading and writing difficulties, basic skills is an issue that is high on the public agenda. McDonald's is tackling the issue head-on by offering its staff a fantastic opportunity to brush up on their basic skills and gain a nationally recognised qualification in return.
"The aim is to provide as many employees as possible with access to the qualification, so we have worked closely with the company to tailor a flexible package that can be delivered in the workplace. It's an exciting venture and we're confident that the scheme will enable McDonald's to upskill significant numbers of its workforce every year. We hope that other employers may follow their example."
David Fairhurst, Vice-President, People, at McDonalds, added: "We are proud that we recruit on qualities, not qualifications. That serves us very well, with 80 per cent of our restaurant management having started as hourly paid crew members.
"But we can do more to ensure that no-one is held back by not having the basics of literacy and numeracy. When you consider that most people in need of help with literacy and numeracy are already in the workforce, basic skills training is a matter of concern for everyone."
