France Quick livens up its trainings with PowerVote®, an interactive voting system

Committed to the performance of their teams, France Quick, the fast food specialist, has set up a training institute for training personnel for their restaurants: team members, assistant managers, directors, etc.

This training institute handles more than 2,000 trainees each year, and offers more than 25 different modules. These sessions are structured around two main emphases: mastering technical know-how (make-up of products, hygiene and quality, food safety, stock management, promotional events etc) and developing managerial skills (managing teams, recruitment etc).

In May 2003, the training department of France Quick used the PowerVote interactive voting system for the first time during the inauguration of I2M (Institut du Management et des Métiers Quick - the Quick Institute of Management and Jobs). The objective was to present this new institute in a fun, interactive way and, at the same time, to convince the assembly of the advantages of using PowerVote. This dynamic presentation was a great success, and the PowerVote system was integrated into the training courses, to check the trainees' knowledge.

The training, made up of three modules, lasts three months and takes place as a sandwich course. Between 25 and 30 trainees participate in each training session. The first module includes the technical aspects of the job (production, maintenance etc) as well as welcoming customers; the second module concerns aspects of communication and team management (training and delegation), while the third module covers the administrative areas of the job (turnover, margins etc) and an overall assessment of knowledge. The mark received at the end of this course allows the regional manager to assess the level of each trainee.

The interactive PowerVote voting system is applied to questionnaires for the passing of each module. These questionnaires are punctuated by "best answer classifications", which liven up the sessions and motivate those who are learning, and allow each trainee to know his or her position.

Before PowerVote, the training department of France Quick used paper questionnaires. "The use of paper took us a lot of time, for trainers as well as trainees. In addition, since our trainees were fairly young, they had a tendency to exchange their questionnaires. With PowerVote, they can no longer cheat, and the fact that it is fun makes the trainees feel more involved. In the end, there's something in it for everyone", said Sophie Rooryck, Operational Training Manager at France Quick.

" We use PowerVote every three weeks, and since 2003 we have trained more than 2,000 people. PowerVote allows us to verify the level of knowledge of our trainees immediately. It is simple to use, and can be modified instantly, so our questionnaires are always up to date as regards standards. In addition, we make a great saving of time and paper. Our sessions are much easier to organise, less heavy and less boring, because we no longer have to spend all the time on correcting which we had to with paper".

Within France Quick, others have followed the lead with PowerVote. Today, Regional Managers wish to use the PowerVote system to evaluate their personnel. And other people are also wanting to be involved: hygiene training, HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points), etc.

Founded in Belgium in 1971 by the first Belgian distribution group at the time, in 30 years, Quick built a network of more than 400 restaurants world-wide, with 315 in France (approx. 70% run as franchises). With a turnover of 696 millions in 2003, Quick is the second European fast food brand. No 1 in Belgium, no 2 in France, Quick employs 16,000 people, all dedicated to the service of customers and the respect for their creed: "Nous, c'est le gout" ("We have taste").
A taste for tasteful products, a taste for innovation, and a taste for surprise; these are the challenges which Quick constantly rises to. With new products, new designs, a commitment to a balanced diet, the launch of the programme "Taste and Nutrition", and a real strategic move to respond to the expectations of their customers in matters of nutrition, Quick is everywhere, and takes part in all the debates.