McDonald’s Eagleby serves up diversity, innovation

THE NEW McDONALD’S restaurant at Eagleby, accessible off the M1 Motorway mid-way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast beaches, has thrived since it opened on November 17, providing more than 100 new jobs in the area.

The development of this particular McDonald’s restaurant is significant not only for its location at Eagleby, a quiet residential community on the eastern side of the M1 opposite the better-known regional township of Beenleigh on the western side, but also for its being able to draw upon the multi-cultural local community for staff.   

It also incorporates a range of innovations that are attuned to the local community and the adjacent motorway location, including an air-conditioned private meeting boardroom, available free of charge and complete with data screen and wifi.

Licensee of McDonald’s Eagleby, Janelle MacGinley, said the 24/7 restaurant had the advantage of being able to draw upon the multi-cultural richness that differentiates Logan from many other South-East Queensland cities. From the outset, Ms MacGinley said the McDonald’s Eagleby had been positioned to draw upon family values and emerging social themes of collaborative economic sustainability, supporting local employment opportunities across broad ethnicities and age groups.

“The interest for employment in our new Eagleby restaurant has been astounding, we had approximately 700 applications and interviewed approximately 300,” Ms MacGinley said. “The new restaurant will now provide more than 100 jobs in Eagleby which is fantastic for all age groups and all skill levels. 

“We are particularly excited about deepening our links into the local education community, giving local young people pathways into hospitality futures through work experience to gain employment program.  We worked closely with Beenleigh State High and in fact did a hiring session at the school. This provided an opportunity for many students to apply for a position, experience the interview process and hiring requirements,” Ms MacGinley said.

 “We are proud to harness the talents and enthusiasm of the local talent to diversify our Eagleby crew by creating jobs and energising the local community.”

McDonald’s Eagleby is the fifth restaurant in the Logan region for Janelle MacGinley, who is supported in the business by her husband, Peter, a local accountant.

“We know as a McDonald’s licensee that success comes from challenging the norm, from adapting and innovating, from creating new trends and pioneering different solutions.”

Ms MacGinley is now in charge of about 500 full-time and part-time crew and managers across her restaurants, including the new Eagleby operation.

Her staff is comprised of a diverse  range of people, from those who are still in high school or further education through to managers, including a number of graduates.  and she is well supported in the business with her accountant husband Peter.

“McDonald’s has changed and grown, but it still prides itself on being a first job for many, a community partner, and ready to serve its customers 24 hours, seven days a week,” she said.

A much-spoken about innovation is the air-conditioned private meeting boardroom at McDonald’s Eagleby, with its data screen and wifi. The room is available to all in the local community and businesses.

“We expect mothers groups, home-led retail enterprises, prayer groups, sporting groups, in fact any group will be welcome to utilise this facility,” Ms MacGinley said. “We recommend the meeting be pre-booked to avoid disappointment.  Establishing meeting spaces at no cost to the user is a bonus to the community as we strive to bring together students, community, and industry in the Logan region.

“To quote an important McDonald’s slogan, McDonald’s has good food, good people and is a good neighbour,” Ms MacGinley said.

www.mcdonalds.com.au

 

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