Employer bodies say the controversial “McQualifications” to be offered by McDonald’s and other large services companies, seen as key to encouraging young people to stay in education and training to 18, could be an improvement on existing vocational qualifications.

McDonald’s, Network Rail and Flybe, the budget airline, have become England’s first employers to win the status of awarding bodies. This gives them the right to grant employees recognised vocational equivalents of A-levels and GCSEs.