A McDonald’s restaurant manager from Blackwood has become one of the first people in the UK to get a degree from the global fast food giant.
James Clarke has earned himself a McDonald’s Foundation Degree in Managing Business Operations and is one of 46 other McDonald’s managers across the country to complete the qualification, launched in 2010.
James, 30, graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University and was awarded his certificate during an official graduation ceremony at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
He said: “Being part of the Foundation Degree programme has been an amazing experience. There have been challenges along the way, but when I was walking up to collect my certificate at the graduation ceremony, it felt like all my hard work had paid off. I’ve always wanted to have a degree, and now I not only have an advantage for promotion but I’ve also got a qualification to be proud of in these tough economic times.
“The Foundation Degree has given me an increased understanding and awareness of business, and the confidence to share my knowledge with my teams – it’s also given me the learning bug.
“The help and support I received from my franchisee and the course tutors during my time on the course proved invaluable and I’m looking forward to giving something back to the business by using my new skills.”
Local franchisee David Balcombe, said: “Given the changing economic climate, it’s more important than ever to be able to provide people with the opportunity to continue gaining qualifications at the same time as working in a relevant employment sector. 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 further their personal development whilst working.
“As a local businessman, I see first-hand the impact that the range of education and learning opportunities available has on my teams. Whether they’ve completed the Foundation Degree like James or are studying towards an apprenticeship, the programmes h