A TAVISTOCK teenager is one of 100 McDonald's employees who have received a £1,000 sponsorship grant towards their studies.
Andrew Sweeney, 19, has worked in the Tavistock restaurant during term and holiday times since he was a sixth former at Tavistock College.
Now studying a history degree at the University of Glamorgan in Wales, Andrew decided to apply to the McDonald's sponsorship programme, which the company developed from over a decade of work supporting various education initiatives.
More than 375 student employees completed the application process for the £1,000 award, which required them to prove their business or sport acumen and academic credentials by answering set questions and providing detailed references from their school, college or sport coach as well as their McDonald's restaurant manager.
Olympic silver medallist Darren Campbell presented the awards to the successful students at a ceremony on Friday at Alton Towers.
Chief executive of McDonald's Andrew Taylor said: 'We value our staff highly and hope that our sponsorship programme will ease the financial burden our student employees may face when completing their studies or personal development.
'This scheme builds on education programmes for employees which McDonald's has run over the past 13 years as we recognise that a well-educated workforce has benefits not only for our company but for the workforce of the UK as a whole.'
Andrew Sweeney said he would be using the money to buy books and computer software and meeting the general costs of being at university.
'It can get pretty expensive because there are a lot of things to buy and this money will really help,' he said. 'I have taken a lot from McDonald's in terms of the skills I have learnt such as teamwork and initiative which I will use in years to come.
'There is a great atmosphere and a really nice bench of people working at the Tavistock restaurant and I imagine I will stay with the company until I finish University and find a job in my chosen career.'