McDonald's restaurants across the State are offering employees the chance to win an education scholarship worth £1,000.

The competition is open to all hourly-paid staff, irrespective of age or nationality, working in any of McDonald's 62 restaurants in this State.

To qualify for one of the 15 scholarships on offer, applicants must have worked for the company for a minimum of six consecutive months and be employed by the company when the scholarship is awarded in September 2001.

The money is to be spent on college fees and textbooks.

There is no restriction on the type of course for which the scholarship is used; applicants must give their reasons for applying and state how they intend to use the money. The application also requires recommendations from their manager and a school or college tutor.

The winners will be chosen not on past school performance but on the merits of their particular application, the company says. Spokesperson Clare McNally says the winners are under no obligation to stay with the company after they have received their award. "This scheme is not about retention of employees. It's there to lessen the burden on people wishing to further their education."

McNally says the scheme has been very successful in Britain and Australia, and the company expects a good uptake here.

"Initially, we are offering 15 scholarships," she says. "But we hope to increase this once we determine the level of interest from employees."