KFC vows a third of new hires will be from disadvantaged backgrounds
Fast food chain KFC has said it aims to ensure one-third of its hires will be young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by 2030.
The restaurant predicts that around 6,000 new jobs will be created with its new programme, called Hatch, in a time where the hospitality industry is struggling with staff shortages.
KFC operates about 950 restaurants in the UK.
The chain is working in conjunction with charity UK Youth who said the scheme aims to break cycles of inequality, disadvantage, and unemployment amongst young people.
The charity said young people are facing a “tsunami of challenges”.
KFC and UK Youth are calling for investment from businesses and government to give young people more opportunities to get into work and are calling for a “proper plan for young people”. This involves post-education and apprenticeship policy, a government funded Hatch scheme and tax incentives for businesses to invest in skills development for young employees.
Meghan Farren, general manager at KFC UK and Ireland, said: “There are more job vacancies across Britain than unemployed people – a first since records began – but the need to foster young talent and invest in their skills and development over the long term continues to be overlooked.”
Maddie Dinwoodie, the chief programme officer at UK Youth, said: “The pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis are having a huge impact on the employment prospects of this generation of young people, despite the record number of job vacancies.”
She added: “Youth work gives young people the tools they need to support their own personal development, to manage their wellbeing, increase their self-confidence, create connections and build trust with others in the community.”