McDonald's joins EAfA, pledging to create 43,000 apprenticeships in Europe by 2025 These apprenticeships will combine workplace training and study, allowing people to learn, acquire work experience and earn money at the same time. © Shutterstock / Rido With its pledge, McDonald's has a concrete target to offer 43,000 apprenticeships, including through its participating Franchisees, in Europe by 2025. These apprenticeships will be offered in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Switzerland, with the aim to expand to other countries in the future. With the latest McDonald’s commitment, 248 pledges have been made by various apprenticeship stakeholders. Altogether, 36 countries have made national commitments under the Alliance, including 27 EU Member States (bar the UK), all 5 Candidate countries and all 4 EFTA countries. The EAfA aims to strengthen the supply, quality, image and mobility of apprenticeships, and it is open to EU Member States, Candidate countries, EFTA countries and stakeholders. Since 2013, companies, employers and intermediaries have pledged to provide over 900,000 apprenticeship and other training or first-job opportunities to young people.