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can deliver for our customers. My main objective is to make sure my team have all the tools they need to do their job and can deliver for our customers. After that, I take a strategic look at, for instance, our community enterprises and an overview of the financial initiatives as well.


And about community – do you feel very much involved in your local area? My restaurant is right in the heart of the community, and they were so welcoming to us. We’ve done lots of initiatives like litter picks and meet-and-greet with local residents. We work a lot with local secondary schools and colleges, helping with CV writing and interview techniques. We also sponsor a boxing academy to help give kids free lessons. It’s a really positive contribution investing in the young people in the area – they are our future talent, so we very much want to be involved in revitalising the community.


Anne-Marie Clarke was an Operations Manager at Amazon before taking the plunge and joining McDonald’s. She now runs her own restaurant in Dudley in the West Midlands.


Tell us about your business ownership journey – and why McDonald’s? I’ve always wanted to run my own business! My granddad had a business, my uncle too … they’ve always been my greatest supporters: “Go on Anne-Marie, you can do it!” It’s just something that I witnessed growing up! People think that to be entrepreneurial,


you have to come up with an original idea, something new, and they get hung up on it and put off. But I knew that, going into the big wide world of running a business, I’d need support and so I looked at different franchises. That’s what


12 | The Franchise Magazine 2025


I liked with McDonald’s – those support mechanisms that they have in place. Their approach to franchisees is very


much one of long-term commitment, they’re always innovating, looking at the next level and how to move the brand forward and stay at the top of the game. Having undergone the training that McDonald’s provides, I understand the business a lot more … what the crew [team members] do, how it all works and where the opportunities are! It’s helped me become a more rounded leader and business owner.


What’s a typical day like for you? It’s all about the people. So for me, it’s making sure my team are okay and we’ve got the people we need around. Second to that, making sure the equipment is operating efficiently and then it’s checking we have accurate levels of products so we


As a female franchisee, have you found McDonald’s supportive? Yes, absolutely! McDonald’s understands and promotes DEI. We really support women coming into the business. We have Women in Leadership groups, and that’s something that I seek to replicate within my team … what I find now is that Shift Runners want to progress through the ranks because they can see other women represented in leadership roles! I’m a big believer in developing my team


in general, in giving people opportunities; there’s new roles I’ve created and the team are achieving things that they’ve never done before … you can just see the passion and energy of that teamwork.


Any advice for those considering a franchise with McDonald’s? Yes! I’d say: “Absolutely! Go for it!” When I look back, I’d mulled it over for a few years but there were always ifs and buts. I now think: “Just put yourself forward!” McDonald’s aren’t necessarily looking for the “finished article”. That’s something that I’ve definitely learned: that if they identify the raw skills within you, you’ll be able to work and progress with McDonald’s – so don’t feel that you have to be perfect, just that you have to have the potential!


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