McDonald’s plans to create more than 5,000 new jobs in the UK by the end of 2017, in a vote of confidence in the economy after the EU referendum.

The company will open 25 new restaurants, extend opening hours at existing sites and introduce new initiatives such as table service.

Greg Clark, the business secretary, said the announcement was “great news for the UK economy”. He added: “The government is committed to ensuring businesses have the support they need to thrive and today’s announcement underlines that businesses are confident that the UK remains open for business.”

McDonald’s is pushing ahead with its expansion plans despite Britain voting to leave the EU, which has sparked fears of a slowdown in the economy and businesses pulling investment out of the country. Paul Pomroy, the chief executive of McDonald’s UK, said all of the jobs would be permanent, with full-time and part-time roles.

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The company has been criticised for its use of zero-hours contracts, with an estimated 80,000 of its workers on such agreements. It is, however, rolling out plans to offer staff the option of moving to fixed-hours contracts.

It has expanded a trial that began in St Helens on Merseyside to nine restaurants around the country, which employ about 600 people. Pomroy said the trial was going “really well” for staff, with one in five workers taking up the option of moving to fixed hours.

The company is revamping its employment policy after workers told Pomroy they were struggling to get loans, mortgages and mobile phone contracts because they were not guaranteed employment each week.

Pomroy said the company had considered whether to press ahead with its expansion plans after the EU referendum, but now wanted to accelerate its growth rather than hold back investment.

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“I want to be seen as an employer of choice. It is important that big business in the UK steps forward and shows the UK is open for business and offers reassurance,” he said.

“We have taken a decision that we want to accelerate, not decelerate, in all areas. I learnt a huge amount in the last recession. I think a strong retailer has to keep delivering and not get distracted.”

He added that McDonald’s had not seen any signs of a slowdown in its restaurants. “Talking to our people and our customers, as you can imagine some are anxious about it,” he said. “But we have not actually seen any slowdown in our business. My job has got slightly tougher, but it’s tough anyway.”

McDonald’s employs more than 110,000 people in the UK. It has added more than 15,000 to its workforce in the past five years, so the latest plans represent an acceleration of its expansion.