Degree of success for Nicola (From Croydon Guardian)

Degree of success for Nicola

1:39pm Thursday 20th October 2011 in Education

Nicola Murphy, who is the manager of a McDonald's restaurant at Croydon Valley Leisure Park, has become one of the first people in the country to complete a McDonald's foundation degree in managing business operations.

Nicola who is from Croydon, was one of 46 McDonald's managers across the country to complete the qualification which was launched in 2010.

The 30-year-old mother of two said: "I began working at McDonald's 15 years ago. I started as a crew member and worked my way up to business manager, but I wanted to learn more about the business side of things. So when the opportunity arose to embark on the foundation degree, it seemed like the perfect chance for me to develop my knowledge.

"It was challenging, juggling full time work with a degree and looking after my two children who are aged seven and three, but I enjoyed it and found it very rewarding."

She says her new found knowledge is already making a difference in her day to day job. She said: "Having a better overview of the business as a whole means I have a greater understanding of everything I do and I'm able to approach everything from a business perspective. As a result I've been able to take on more responsibility and regularly share examples and best practice with my team members, both senior and junior."

The one year degree programme is accredited by Manchester Metropolitan University, and Nicola was awarded her certificate during an official graduation ceremony at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

The vocational degree involves on the job training and assessments, which employees can do in both their work time and spare time. Nicola said: "A large part of the course was tailored to fit in with my working day and I was also assigned my own personal tutor to help me balance my workload and studies"

In the last five years, McDonald's has made significant developments to the career and educational opportunities it provides. The foundation degree is part of a framework of qualifications that McDonald's now offers to all its employees.The franchise invests £30m a year in training, and some of this goes towards helping employees fund their degree courses.

Other qualifications it provides includes a Level 2 apprenticeship in multi-skilled hospitality. The apprenticeship is open to all staff and usually takes around 8 to 12 months to complete. The apprenticeship qualification is the equivalent to five GCSEs and has been awarded a 'good' rating in its first Ofsted inspection.

Gary Adams who is a franchisee of a number of McDonald's restaurants across South London, says he is pleased to see the worlds of business and education moving closer together.

He said: "People no longer want to choose between the two and I believe that businesses like ours have a responsibility to meet these demands. There's no longer a need to decide between learning and earning and as such, I'm thrilled to be able to offer all my employees the chance to gain valuable qualifications.

"Whether they've completed the foundation degree like Nicola or are studying towards an apprenticeship, the training we provide helps to boost their confidence both inside and outside the workplace. Nicola has set the bar high by gaining her foundation degree qualification and I know her hard work will inspire her colleagues to be ambitious when it comes to improving their skills and qualifications. In addition one of our recent apprentices, Tony Hirst, has really benefited from completing the apprenticeship scheme by taking on more responsibility at his branch."

Mr Adams added: "I want the staff to feel that this is more than just a job, I want them to feel as though they are embarking on a career with us at McDonald's, and this is exactly what these qualifications enable them to do."

McDonald's also offers a structured work experience programme, which helps equip young people with a range of transferable work place skills, including teamwork, communication and interview technique.

To find out more or to apply for one of the schemes visit the McDonald's website at www.mcdonalds.co.uk.