KFC

KFC opened its first UK restaurant in Preston, Lancashire, in 1965. Sixty years on, it has more than 1,000 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, and describes itself as one of the largest employers of young people in the country.

The roles: KFC recruits Team Members and Cooks, who hand-bread the chicken in every restaurant, as well as Team Leaders, Assistant Restaurant General Managers and Restaurant General Managers. Its Restaurant Support Centre includes Operations, People and Culture, Finance, Marketing and Tech teams, and the team behind new restaurant builds. Some restaurants are run by KFC itself and others by its franchise partners.

Development: KFC says no experience is needed for its restaurant roles, as it teaches everything. People with potential get an Individual Development Plan, checked twice a year; new restaurant managers and senior leaders start on its Heartstyles leadership programme; and KFC has offered apprenticeships in hospitality since 2012.

What KFC offers (from its careers site): free chicken every shift, flexible shifts, and a benefits app with exclusive rates on insurance, retail discounts, savings accounts and mental health support. KFC notes that perks vary between its own restaurants and those run by franchise partners.

In the community: KFC supports the KFC Youth Foundation, whose Hatch programme gives young people aged 18 to 24 an eight-week employability programme with work experience and training. KFC reports that Hatch has helped more than 1,000 young people since it launched in 2022.