The challenging and ever changing economic situation means it is more important than ever for young people to remain engaged with education and training. Indeed, it's vital to the future success and growth of the economy. But the conundrum of how to support and develop the skills and talents of young people in a way that ensures they reach their full potential cannot and should not rest solely with schools, colleges and higher education institutions.
Employers must also play their part.
Undoubtedly, the formal education system plays a huge role in people's formative years. Many thrive in the classroom environment and develop an appetite for lifelong learning. For others, the reality is quite different. Unfortunately, for some young people, classroom based learning doesn't always work. In these cases, young people can leave school disillusioned, without the skills and qualifications required to realise their full potential and succeed in the modern labour market.
Once, the end of school meant the end of learning and qualifications for many. However, today traditional lines between education and employment have become blurred. Young people not suited to classroom learning can continue their education in the workplace and go on to achieve valuable qualifications. Straight A students can top up their academic achievements with more accredited qualifications gained on-the-job. Providing the right choices and chances to young people is key to ensuring that they do not disengage with learning when they leave school. And that's where teachers and responsible, progressive employers can unite and play a big part.
At McDonald's, we invest Ł30 million every year in training and development opportunities for our people and we're committed to providing valuable, transferable and nationally recognised qualifications. I speak to our people all the time and I know that they're ambitious - that's why we map our industry-leading training against recognised qualifications. It means we can help unlock the potential of our employees, no matter what their educational background, enabling them to develop both in their careers at McDonald's and beyond.
Offering nationally recognised qualifications is a natural extension of our longstanding approach to training and development. It makes business sense, and our employees welcome the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications while they work here. It's why we've worked tirelessly to develop a suite of qualifications ranging from Levels 1 and 2 Skills for Life qualifications in English and Maths to Apprenticeships and even an A-Level equivalent diploma in management.
For me, it's clear that classroom learning is no longer the only route to new skills and valuable qualifications. Talk to newly-promoted Shift Manager Sam Bennett, and you immediately see the value of our approach. Sam left school at 16 without any qualifications, and during the last three years has worked his way up from crew member to his current role as Shift Manager. While he has taken strides forward in his career, he has also gained GCSE-equivalent Maths and English qualifications, become one of our first qualified Apprentices, and most recently completed our A Level-equivalent management diploma.
"I've really enjoyed doing my Apprenticeship and the Diploma in Shift Management, and I'm very happy about the qualifications I now have - they look really good on my CV," says Sam. "The diploma was challenging and required a lot of work, but I feel excited about the future. My ambition is to be a chef and run my own business, and these qualifications will stand me in good stead."
I'm extremely proud of our record when it comes to providing valuable training and development opportunities. In fact, we were one of the first three employers to be granted awarding body status in January 2008, at which time we were given the power by the QCA to award an A Level-equivalent diploma in management. Following an extensive pilot of the qualification, we are now rolling out our Diploma in Shift Management across all of our 1,200 restaurants and we expect up to 2,500 employees to complete the qualification this year.
I firmly believe the most important thing for large employers is to offer progression routes for young people, enabling them to continue their formal learning in the workplace. I'm not an expert on the schools system, but I do know that schools can't be the end of the story for those who leave without good qualifications. In the modern economy, it's the role of employers to help ensure that young people don't leave the world of education behind them when they enter the world of work - and here at McDonald's it's a role we are proud to play.
