McDonald's is to provide apprenticeships to 6,000 members of staff this year and then up to 10,000 every year from 2010.

The firm piloted the scheme in 80 restaurants across the UK last year and, following its success, intends to roll the apprenticeships out across all 1,200 outlets - making its apprenticeship scheme the largest in the UK.

The restaurant chain, which employs 72,000 in the UK, hopes to provide all staff with a nationally recognised qualification, equivalent to five GCSEs grade A* to C.

The firm will have to meet the same requirements as any other qualifications provider and will be inspected by Ofsted. The Level 2 apprenticeship offered to staff will be in multi-skilled hospitality, recognising job-specific skills as well as GCSE Maths and English.

David Fairhurst (pictured), senior vice president and chief people officer McDonald's Restaurants Northern Europe, told HR magazine: "One in five employees in the UK works in hospitality. Our apprenticeship scheme gives staff transferable skills they can use in this industry as well as improving their skills while they work at McDonald's.

"Even if we have part-time staff here while they are at university, for example, they might want to pick up a qualification from us that they will be able to use throughout their career - whatever they choose to do."

He added: "It is vital we and others in the industry invest in skills and training now to ensure the sector is ready to shine when the UK emerges from the downturn."

The announcement comes as the government pledged to fund 35,000 extra apprenticeships.

Commenting on the government's promise John Cridland, CBI Deputy director general, said: "This is a useful initiative designed to help those people who are particularly vulnerable to unemployment develop their skills. However, the only way to protect real jobs is to get the credit markets working again."