29/03/2010

Robin Walker, Conservative Candidate for Worcester spoke to staff and management at Worcester's McDonalds to discuss training programmes for workers and job opportunities that the restaurant can provide. Robin is supporting the Conservative campaign to Get Britain Working and ensure that more people have the opportunity of work or training instead of living on benefits.

Local franchisee, Trevor, has worked with McDonalds for over 27 years and has held the franchise on the McDonald's in Hylton Road and the High Street for the last three years.

He talked Robin through his plans to take on more staff, more apprentices and the way in which the restaurant deals with issues such as anti-social behaviour and litter.

Robin supports a cleaner and greener city and was pleased to hear that McDonalds organises a number of litter picks every day between its two restaurants. He was also pleased to learn that the company backs a number of other initiatives including sponsoring local football teams and providing money for Ronald McDonald House charity, which offers rooms for the parents of sick children.

The company is involved in an apprenticeship scheme that has cross party support, taking on young people and providing on the job training that gives them a GNVQ qualification in hospitality at the end of 9 months. Robin met with staff members taking this qualification and others who have been employed by the firm for over twenty years.

At the end of the visit Robin said

"I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the focus on training and development at McDonalds and the number of staff who have been there a very long time. We want a vibrant high street in Worcester providing plenty of jobs and opportunities and big international franchises such as this one clearly have a part to play in that along with local shops. I welcome the work that Trevor and his team have been doing to deal with litter collection and encourage local sports teams, but there is always more that can be done and I want to make sure, as a near neighbour, this organisation keeps doing its bit for the community and to keep our city tidy."

"The apprenticeship scheme here is clearly doing some good work, but I am concerned that the government has tailored their apprenticeships too heavily toward easy-win areas in big chains like McDonald's and Tescos who would be training people up regardless of government support and not towards manufacturing or engineering. A Conservative government would carry on working with the big chains but would also pay much more attention to the needs of small businesses in creating more flexible apprenticeships that could benefit many more people."

"Hardworking people such as those I met today will benefit from the Conservative decision to keep down national insurance increases and businesses such as Trevor's should be able to take on more staff as a result. Why Labour want to increase tax on jobs just as we are coming out of recession is a mystery. We must be clear that the Conservative party is on the side of people who work."