The founder and managing director of Appt Corporation, one of the leading McDonald’s franchisees in London, has been appointed an OBE for services to entrepreneurship.

Atul Pathak, from Hanwell, says he is genuinely humbled by the award of an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and said he would like to share the award with his staff, both present and past, as well as the local communities that his restaurants serve.

Mr Pathak came to the UK three decades ago and, after running a number of small businesses, he set up Appt Corporation and opened his first restaurant with McDonald’s in Hanwell.

He now has 26 McDonald’s franchises and employs over 2,000 staff.

Atul said: “I am overwhelmed and humbled to receive this honour.

"When I first came to the UK from India and started my working life at a cash-and-carry in Southall, I had no idea how welcoming the people of London would be and the opportunities that I would find here.

“As my business has grown, the values that my parents instilled have always driven me. These are understanding the importance of education, the power of hard work and the necessity of giving back to your community.

“I believe especially that as a businessperson, I have a responsibility to give something back to the local communities that my restaurants serve.

“It is for this reason that I established the Atul Pathak Community Awards, offering a financial contribution and a year-long partnership to seven local charities every year.

“We also sponsor local football teams, work with young people through the London Education Business Partnership and host clean-up and regeneration events.”