McDonald's bets on Britain's youth with UK's biggest paid work experience scheme

"McDonald's UK has stepped into the breach with what it claims is the largest in-person work experience programme the country has ever seen, offering 2,500 paid placements in its first year."

"A quarter of all placements have been earmarked for young people who are already NEET or considered at risk of becoming so, addressing the urgent need for support in these communities."

"While 80 per cent of those in education, training or employment believe they have something positive to offer society, that figure plunges to 57 per cent among the NEET cohort."

"Two-thirds of young people surveyed said they would jump at the chance to do work experience but cannot find it; almost seven in ten cited a lack of opportunities locally."

McDonald's UK has initiated a nationwide work experience program aimed at providing 2,500 paid placements for young people, particularly targeting NEET hotspots. The program is designed to support those not in education, employment, or training, with a quarter of placements reserved for individuals already NEET or at risk. Research indicates a significant gap between aspiration and opportunity for under-25s, with many expressing a desire for work experience but facing barriers such as a lack of local opportunities and the inability to afford unpaid positions.

Read at Business Matters