MCDONALD’S and its suppliers are worth £13.7million a year to Bournemouth and employ 917 people in the area, a report commissioned by the fast food giant says.

The business says it is directly responsible for more than £11.3m in the area and has 768 staff.

McDonald’s commissioned a report to mark 45 years of operating in the UK.

Serving the UK: McDonald’s at 45, researched by Development Economics, details the changes the business has undergone and the challenges it faces ahead of its 50th year in the UK.

Franchisee Tony Bennett, who owns and operates four restaurants in the area, said: “Creating and sustaining jobs across Bournemouth 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.”

Mr Bennett’s team takes part in regular litter picks and community regeneration events. It recently carried out a Great British Clean event with the council and Bournemouth Town Centre Business Improvement District and supported the Litter Free Dorset campaign.

The report finds estimated McDonald’s and its supply chain to be worth £3.36billion annually to the UK economy – and says that over the past 45 years, the total economic contribution has been £54.4bn, £35.6bn with UK businesses and creating 2.1m.

In the South West, McDonald’s has contributed £121m and supported 8,084 jobs. Including suppliers and “induced” gross value added (GVA), the total GVA contribution in the region is £224m.