In the parking lot of the Pôle emploi agency in Machecoul, a small town located about forty kilometers from Nantes, this Monday in September, a van that was unusual to say the least came to set up early in the morning. On its right side, we see the Google logo, with a subtitle: “Free digital training near you and online”. On the left, a food-truck-style opening allows you to see a furnished interior, where cups in the company colors sit on a counter.
The vehicle is not parked there by chance. 22 business creators, selected by the agency’s teams, come that day to attend training sessions dedicated to digital technology and provided by two Google “coaches”. “We are here to present the tools that exist – not just those offered by Google – and to break down the brakes. We feel that we bring a real plus”, assures Pierre Hello, one of the two facilitators, who carries out 3 to 3 sessions every month. 5 interventions throughout Brittany. Before the start of the course, the two trainers, blue hoodies stamped with the name of the American giant on the back, distribute coffee to the first arrivals, before heading to a conference room inside the establishment .
A Google coach takes a break to chat with training participants. © Google
The importance of Google My Business
The first session is devoted to Google My Business, this file that each company, doctor or even restaurant can create to indicate address and opening hours, but above all to be able to receive reviews. To the question “Have you already created your space?”, only two participants raised their hands. One of them followed all the instructions, but his Google business listing, for selling jewelry in e-commerce, is still not online. “We’re going to look at all that,” promises Pierre Hello, at the helm.
In the room, the profiles are diverse: a crepe caterer, a sports coach, a carpenter, a drone seller… The advice given by the speaker is listened to attentively, and the questions arise. “I watch the tutorials, but that’s not enough. You have to have someone in front of you,” admits Gwenaelle Le Compte, 49, who plans to launch an online store of leather goods during the break. “I am aware of the importance of online communication. There is a lot of competition, these small details can make the difference,” says Corinne Lemaitre, 37, who is preparing to open a practice soon. reflexology. Subsequently, a second training session dedicated to social media management and online reputation will take place.
Around fifty coaches and 70 training courses
It was in 2015 that Google created the “Digital Workshops” program to support companies, individuals and partners. Starting with six training groups at the start, it now has more than 70. A team of around fifty coaches and four vans travel the roads of France all year round. Since 2020, Google has been collaborating with Pôle emploi and sending its teams to agencies across France to train job seekers and business creators in digital tools. “This makes it possible to capture profiles that would not necessarily have come. Google offers a complementary tool to Pôle emploi and its name inevitably attracts. We use this partnership to go further on digital subjects and in particular e-reputation”, explains Céline Nué Barthe, director of the Machecoul agency.
53 branches have already received a visit from the yellow and blue vehicle, for a total of 35,000 people trained. “Digital technology is becoming more and more part of our daily lives. More and more administrative procedures are being dematerialized. It is essential to master these tools. Furthermore, these skills are key to France’s success. We are not in a commercial objective, but training”, affirms Sébastien Missoffe, general manager of Google France. “The idea is to be collaborative. This is particularly true with Pôle emploi, which does extraordinary work to identify the people who need training.” Next challenge, introducing job seekers to artificial intelligence, the latest training designed by the company. A well-known topic from Google.