Home > Job News > Part Time/Holiday > KFC To Create 7,000 New Full Or Part Time Jobs In The UK & Ireland < Job News and Info

KFC has unveiled plans to create 7,000 new full and part time jobs across the UK and Ireland as part of a £1.5 billion growth drive.

The investment, spread over the next five years, will fund 500 additional restaurants. The plans include drive-through outlets, new flagship sites and the modernisation of more than 200 existing outlets.

The fried-chicken giant, which marked its 60th anniversary in Preston earlier this year, currently operates over 1,000 restaurants and employs around 33,500 people across the UK and Ireland.

This latest push will particularly target key locations such as the North West of England and Ireland, where demand is strong.

The announcement comes amid fierce rivalry in the UK’s fried-chicken sector. American fast food chicken brands like Popeyes and Wingstop have both expanded rapidly, while home-grown chains and independents continue to carve out market share.

KFC remains the market leader, however, with UK visitors spending more than £2.4 billion on fried chicken in the last year.

KFC acknowledged that recent rises to the National Minimum and Living Wages, as well as higher employer National Insurance contributions, have increased operating costs for the chain.

But KFC’s general manager for UK & Ireland, Rob Swain, said he did not anticipate recruitment difficulties, noting the popularity of fast-food roles among 16–24 year-olds.

Announcing the expansion plans, Mr Swain, said: “We’ve been serving customers in the UK for 60 years now, but we’ve never seen such strong demand for freshly prepared, fried chicken as we’re seeing today. As the market leader and a near £2 billion revenue business, we’re incredibly well positioned to unlock this opportunity.”

“That’s why we’re doubling down on our commitment to the UK and Ireland with a major investment in our restaurants and in the suppliers who have been so crucial to our success, which will create jobs in local communities across the country,” added the general manager.

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality, also commented, saying: “Hospitality’s ability to create places where people want to live, work and invest is unrivalled. This significant announcement from KFC is proof of that and will help to drive socially productive growth, deliver economically and support employment across the UK.”

With thousands of roles on offer and clear pathways to management, KFC’s expansion presents a prime opportunity for students seeking flexible, fast-paced work in a growing sector.

Student job seekers can look forward to a range of entry-level roles, from front-of-house servers to kitchen assistants, as well as supervisory and management positions.

KFC has emphasised its commitment to learning and development, highlighting that around 2,000 team members are promoted internally each year.

If you are interested in jobs with the fast food chain then get yourself over to our company profile for KFC and see what opportunities are currently available.