McDonald’s contributes £3.3m to the Exeter economy and brings 222 jobs to the city
An independent economic report commissioned by McDonald’s to mark 45 years of operating in the UK, reveals the business and its suppliers have made a combined contribution of £3.3 million annually to Exeter.
Despite numerous high-street businesses in decline across the UK, McDonald’s continues to invest in and grow both its High Street and Drive-Thru operations, many of which are located in town centre locations. Without including its supply chain, in 2017 alone, McDonald’s directly generated more than £2.8m in the city.
The ‘Serving the UK: McDonald’s at 45’, was researched by Development Economics to understand the value McDonald’s has made to the UK economy, local communities, its employees, customers and suppliers since it first started operating in the UK. The new report builds on the economic data McDonald’s published five years ago to mark its 40th anniversary in the UK.
The report looks at McDonald’s significant contribution to UK’s cities, through jobs created in restaurants and the wider economic impact through its supply chain. The study details themany changes the business has undergone to meet customer needs and the key challenges it faces as it heads towards its 50th year in 2024.
Local franchisee, David Shawyer owns and operates two restaurants in Exeter and another in Exmouth. He said: “Creating and sustaining jobs across Exeter and East Devon is of huge importance to me, and the fact that we have been able to make a significant financial contribution to the area is something my team and I are very proud of.
“We employ people based on their qualities not their qualifications but, as the worlds of business and education move closer, there’s no longer a need to decide between learning and earning.
“There’s also no such thing as a typical 9-5 at my restaurants. We know that people take a job with McDonald's for all sorts of reasons, from wanting to earn some extra cash while studying at colleges or universities, to needing a flexible job that fits around childcare. That's why it's so important to us that we offer our employees flexible working options.”
Franchisees go above and beyond to give back to and champion their local communities. David Shawyer organises community regeneration projects, most recently planting 300 trees in Exeter Valley Park and supported a clean-up along the beach at Dawlish Nature reserve. David also participates in the company-wide Keep Up The Clean Up anti-litter campaign, regularly organising litter picks in and around Exeter and Exmouth. David also continues to sponsor grassroots football clubs local to each of his restaurants.
The report finds that overall the business and its supply chain is estimated to be worth £3.36 billion annually to the UK economy – and that over the past 45 years, the total economic contribution is £54.4 billion, spending £35.6 billion with UK businesses and creating 2.1 million jobs.
In the South West as a whole McDonald’s has contributed £121m and supported 8,084 jobs. By including suppliers and induced GVA, the total GVA contribution in the region is £224m.
