Created by a couple who are both Kedge graduates, the UB4Kids chain of nurseries continues to grow in Marseille.

The benches at the Kedge Business School Marseille campus see many a budding romance every year. The story of Christine Gobert and Pierre Comboroure (ESC 2005) was no different, and also adds to the long list of professional ventures established between the school and alumni.

Pierre took a gap year in Chile for an internship at Peugeot Chile before getting together with Christine, whom he had met while studying at Kedge Business School. In 2006, the two recent ESC-graduates decided to move to Australia together. They returned to the Mediterranean coast the following year. From 2007 to 2012, Pierre worked for Marfret; he helped the shipping company set up a branch in Algiers. During that time, Christine was working as a manager in major retail. In 2009, the two Kedge graduates had twins! The arrival of the newest members of the Kedge family inspired the couple to open their first micro-nursery in October of 2012. The “micro-nursery” concept is simple: the nursery can accommodate up to ten children at a time, looked after by four staff members, for better childcare in a safer environment. “We wanted to offer a different kind of childcare service, combining the flexibility and comfort of a small group with the resources and methods of a traditional nursery”, explains Pierre.

The nursery was an immediate hit. Five years later, UB4Kids is getting ready to open a sixth location. Christine and Pierre also employ a staff of 22, across the 2^nd, 5^th, 10^th and 11^th arrondissements in Marseille. As if the couple didn’t have enough little ones in their life, Christine gave birth to a second pair of twins in June of 2015! Needless to say, children are their specialty!

But how did the couple’s Kedge Business School education help them along the way? “More than the content, certain methods have stuck with me—a more pragmatic approach to work. Realising the power of teamwork, managing projects and getting first-hand experience of working under pressure through my involvement in certain service projects are what come to mind, for example. More broadly speaking, I realised that setbacks are usually only temporary. Another door always opens. The connections we made there were probably most valuable of all—one would change our lives forever...” says Pierre.

“No matter the idea, the school can provide nearly all of the necessary tools to carry out and support concrete projects. It also provides a buffer to minimise any risks. Those are the perfect conditions for trying new things and making mistakes!” 

UB4Kids will be opening a sixth micro-nursery in the 9^th arrondissement of Marseille in the second quarter of 2017.

For more information:

• www.ub4kids.com
• www.facebook.com/UB4Kids.microcreches

Contractor CSR Entrepreneurship Start up