IT turns out that flipping burgers isn’t the only thing McDonald’s can offer for staff training.

As the company celebrates the first 100 employees in Warrington to have gained an apprenticeship, Zara Barnes, a newly qualified apprentice at the Winwick Road restaurant, has praised the impact the scheme is having on her career.

“The opportunity to join the programme came at a good time for me as I was looking for a way to help improve my chances of progressing in my career,” said Zara, aged 17.

“I could see straight away the benefit completing this programme would have for both my CV and for my current role.

“While I was working towards the qualification I gained a better knowledge of English and Maths and it also made me a lot more confident when working with my team and with customers.”

Apprenticeships are one part of the qualifications McDonald’s offers to its staff, which include nationally recognised awards in maths and English. The apprenticeship qualification itself is equivalent to five GCSEs.

Dave Shaw, a McDonalds frnachisee in Warrington, said: “The education landscape in the UK is currently evolving and as a result vocational qualifications are more relevant than ever before.”

Zara added: “One of the reasons I joined McDonald’s was because I had heard there were opportunities to continue studying while working.

“I am definitely more ambitious now and would recommend other people in my team to give it a go – I really enjoyed studying towards it and I know others will too.

“No matter what I end up doing, whether it is progressing further up the career ladder at McDonald’s or taking a different path, I can see how the skills I have gained will help me with this.”

The range of subjects the McDonald’s apprenticeship scheme covers ranges from maths and English, to more vocationally-focused courses such as a diploma in shift management.