McDonald’s UK has unveiled a new nationwide work experience programme that will offer 2,500 paid placements in its first year, with a focus on communities where young people face the greatest barriers to entering work.

The initiative, announced on 22 April, comes as the UK approaches one million young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and marks a significant expansion of McDonald’s long-running efforts to support young people into work.

The fast food operator said the programme had been designed to tackle some of the root causes of youth unemployment, particularly the lack of accessible local work experience and the financial barriers associated with unpaid placements.

It will be delivered through McDonald’s franchise network, with local franchisees helping to offer opportunities in the communities they know best. The business said it intends to scale the programme year on year, with an initial target of ensuring 25 per cent of placements go to young people who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.

McDonald’s said it had commissioned its first Youth Confidence Index to better understand the barriers facing young people across the UK. The findings point to a generation that remains ambitious, but often feels locked out of opportunity.

According to the research, 67 per cent of young people said they would like to do work experience, but felt there were not enough opportunities available. The two biggest barriers were a lack of placements in their local area, cited by 69 per cent, and the inability to afford unpaid work experience, mentioned by 61 per cent.

The research also revealed a marked confidence gap between those already engaged in education, employment or training and those who are NEET. While 80 per cent of young people in education, employment or training said they believed they had something positive to offer society, this fell to 57 per cent among those who were NEET.

McDonald’s UK and Ireland chief executive Lauren Schultz said the company was using its scale as one of the country’s largest employers of young people to create more meaningful routes into work.

She said: “At McDonald’s, we believe in the potential and ability of young people and want to help them make it. With over 100,000 employees under 25 across the UK, we have the reach to make a real difference and are uniquely positioned to open doors at scale.

“Everything a young person needs to learn about the world of work, from communication to financial skills, can be mastered at McDonald’s. By helping thousands gain this exposure and build confidence, we are creating a genuine pathway into employment and demonstrating the transformative power the hospitality sector can have on our national workforce.”

The five-day placements will be open to participants aged 16 and over. During the programme, young people will gain hands-on experience across core restaurant operations, giving them a practical understanding of how a business runs day to day.

That will include tasks such as inventory checks, drive-thru operations and customer service, alongside training in transferable skills including leadership, problem-solving, interview techniques and time management. Participants will work under the guidance of experienced restaurant crew members.

The initiative has also drawn support from government and education figures.

Pat McFadden, secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “We’re tackling youth unemployment head on by backing young people with the skills and support they need, while working with employers to open more doors. McDonald’s have a strong track record of supporting and training up young people, and it is fantastic to see them using their position to help even more overcome barriers and set them up for successful careers.

“This shows what’s possible when Government and business help young people into work.”

Alan Milburn, chair of the government’s Young People and Work Review, described the scale of youth unemployment and the NEET crisis as “a national outrage with long-term consequences”.

He added: “Young people want to work, but too often the system shuts them out. High-quality work experience delivered at scale can be transformative, and McDonald’s commitment shows the kind of leadership employers need to demonstrate if we’re serious about giving every young person a fair start.”

Haroon Chowdry, chief executive of the Centre for Young Lives, said the announcement reflected a wider truth about the labour market.

“Our research is clear: young people want to work. They have hopes and ambition, but what they often lack are opportunity and support,” he said.

“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… It also relies on employers stepping up – which is why we welcome today’s announcement from McDonald’s that will unlock new opportunities for thousands of young people across the country.”

Alongside the launch, McDonald’s has also partnered with the Centre for Young Lives and the Institute for Public Policy Research.

The Centre for Young Lives has published a new report, Turning the Tide on Rising NEETs, while IPPR is undertaking a two-year research programme, State of a Generation, aimed at developing a framework to restore opportunity for young people across the UK.

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