Université Populaire Ventoux

What Université Populaire Ventoux does

Université Populaire Ventoux (UP Ventoux) is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) recognized as being of general interest, headquartered in Carpentras, Vaucluse, France. Established circa 2000 with the founding of Les Jardiniers du Ventoux and Relais Travail Saisonnier Ventoux, the association's mission is sustainable employment for all, integrated with environmental education and territorial development in the Vaucluse and Ventoux territory. It operates a portfolio of interconnected services: employment mediation (Médiation Emploi) for people in professional transition; seasonal work placement (Relais Travail Saisonnier) connecting employers with seasonal labor in agriculture, food processing, hospitality, and restaurants; environmental education and waste reduction programs (Le Naturoptère cultural center in Sérignan-du-Comtat, Le Cercle des Poubelles Disparues composting and waste-sorting program); landscaping and masonry services (Les Jardiniers du Ventoux); and an in-house Service Communication providing graphic design, web, and video support. Le Cercle des Poubelles Disparues has scaled to 17 shared composting zones across 6 communes in two intercommunalites since 2021, with over 300 participants in 2023 and cumulative engagement exceeding 21,752 'sorties dynamiques' and 12,000+ training hours organization-wide.

The association operates on a hybrid revenue model combining recurring membership dues and donations with public funding streams, including EU LEADER program co-financing, departmental and municipal grants, and other institutional subsidies enabled by its general-interest status. Services are free for job seekers and seasonal workers. Customer concentration is institutional: the organization serves individuals (job seekers, RSA beneficiaries, seasonal workers) and partner enterprises (30+ local businesses), but its revenue base is anchored to public-sector funders and local government partners (intercommunalites and communes of Vaucluse). Distribution is community-led and direct, relying on physical presence in Carpentras, a partner referral network, and a light digital footprint (WordPress website, Facebook, YouTube). The current strategic focus is on the Projet LEADER feasibility study for a ressourcerie on the GAL Ventoux territory, signaling continued expansion of its environmental services portfolio.

Name

Université Populaire Ventoux

Legal name

Université Populaire Ventoux

Website

https://upventoux.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Université Populaire Ventoux is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) in Carpentras, Vaucluse, providing sustainable employment intermediation, seasonal work placement, environmental education, and waste reduction services to job seekers, seasonal workers, and territorial stakeholders in the Vaucluse region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM), Circularity Consulting & Program Management (EPR, Design-for-Circularity, LCA) (EUAIANAH)

Keywords

• Employment mediation services
• Seasonal work placement
• Environmental education programs
• Professional integration support
• Community development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Carpentras

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and donations: The association generates revenue through membership fees (adhesion) and public donations, as indicated by the donation call-to-action on the website.
2. Public funding and grants: As a recognized association d'interet general, UP Ventoux receives public funding, grants, and co-financing from EU programs (LEADER project), local authorities, and institutional partners to fund its employment mediation and environmental actions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Université Populaire Ventoux is a French non-profit association (loi 1901) recognized as being of general interest. It provides employment mediation services, seasonal work placement (Relais Travail Saisonnier Ventoux), and integrates environmental education and sustainable development as core operational principles. The association also runs an in-house communication service, landscaping/green space maintenance operations (Les Jardiniers du Ventoux), a nature education center (Le Naturoptère), and waste reduction/composting programs (Le Cercle des Poubelles Disparues), all serving the Vaucluse territory.

Product overview

Université Populaire Ventoux is a non-profit association ( loi 1901) recognized as being of general interest, providing a portfolio of employment and environmental services to the Vaucluse territory. The core offerings include employment mediation (Médiation Emploi), seasonal work placement (Relais Travail Saisonnier), and environmental education services (Le Naturoptère, Le Cercle des Poubelles Disparues). Supporting services include an in-house communication team offering graphic design and web services, and Les Jardiniers du Ventoux providing landscaping and green space maintenance. These services are interconnected, with the Communication service supporting all other actions, and seasonal employment services contributing to the economic revitalization mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Médiation Emploi

Quantifiable outcome

• 21,752+ dynamic outputs served through association programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Intercommunalites of VauclusecoreOthersUP Ventoux works in partnership with intercommunalites (inter-municipal authorities) across Vaucluse for shared composting zones, environmental animations, and community waste reduction programs.
• Communes of VauclusecoreOthersLe Cercle des Poubelles Disparues partners with communes for waste sorting animations and shared composting site installation and maintenance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centres Permanents d'Initiatives pour l'Environnement (CPIE): National network of environmental education centers across France offering nature workshops, biodiversity programs, and community environmental animations. Direct peer to Le Naturoptère's cultural-educational environmental mission.
• Les Chantiers École (Réseau National): French national network of 'ateliers et chantiers d'insertion' (ACI) — work-integration social enterprises that provide employment mediation and skills training in green spaces, building maintenance, and environmental services. Direct operational peer to UP Ventoux's employment-mission activities.
• Relais France (Groupe Relais): French social-enterprise network operating textile collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling for employment inclusion. Direct peer in combining circular-economy/ressourcerie activities with social-employment outcomes — directly comparable to UP Ventoux's LEADER ressourcerie project.
• Emmaüs France: Federation of French non-profit associations that combine social inclusion through employment with reuse/recycling activities (ressourceries, bric-à-brac). Direct peer in mission structure: employment mediation for vulnerable populations + circular-economy operations.
• Réseau Cocagne: National French network of 'Jardins de Cocagne' — organic gardening social-integration organizations that combine sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and workforce reintegration. Closely comparable integrated model to UP Ventoux's Jardiniers du Ventoux + Médiation Emploi + Naturoptère structure.

Broad incumbents

• Fédération Nationale des Associations d'Accueil et de Réinsertion Sociale (FNARS): National federation (now Fédération des Acteurs de la Solidarité) representing social-inclusion, employment, and housing nonprofits. Broader incumbent advocating for and supporting organizations like UP Ventoux.
• Unis-Cité: Leading French nonprofit pioneering civic service and youth employment/integration programs nationwide. A broader incumbent with comparable employment-inclusion mission but a national footprint and youth focus.
• France Active: National solidarity-finance network supporting social enterprises, employment initiatives, and community organizations across France. A broader incumbent providing financing and incubation to entities like UP Ventoux.
• ANDES (Association Nationale de Développement des Épiceries Solidaires): National network supporting solidarity grocery and social-inclusion initiatives. A broader nonprofit incumbent operating in adjacent social-employment territory to UP Ventoux's employment-mission programs.

Others

• L'Agence Française de Développement (AFD) - Civil Society & Local Initiatives: French development agency financing sustainable development, employment, and environmental projects in France and abroad. Not a direct peer but a key funding-source counterpart and adjacent ecosystem player.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUmDNzM9kDdQgToTlcUcTcQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/lecercledespoubellesdisparues
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upventoux

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Université Populaire Ventoux