Leadership Training Programme reunited in Galway
When the group of rural social entrepreneurs returned to Galway 23-25 February, they came back to the place where their shared journey first began. One and a half years earlier, they had met here for the first time as participants in the MERSE Leadership Training Programme – a programme focused on developing the skills needed to facilitate and coach other rural social entrepreneurs and enterprises. Now they returned as trained facilitators who had grown into their roles through hands-on practice, reflection, and structured learning. Over three days, they deepened this learning further, exchanged experiences, and explored new methods.
This article is the first in a series of three that will describe the days in Galway and what the participants learned about coaching and supporting rural social entrepreneurs.
A sense of warmth, openness, and genuine willingness to support each other’s development characterised the gathering in Galway, Irland. Participants from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and Iceland had first met here during the programme kickoff 1.5 years earlier. Now they were back for three days of further training that built on their earlier experiences and strengthened their ability to support other rural social entrepreneurs.
Participants included Roseann and Eileen from Ireland, Jarle from Norway, Anna and Heida from Iceland, Tiina from Finland, and Thomas and Ida from Sweden. The programme was led by Roy Clunie and Berni Cullinane from the Social Enterprise Academy in Scotland.
Peer-to-peer learning
At the centre of the gathering was the MERSE Leadership Training Programme, an initiative designed to test new working methods, transfer effective practices, and develop a peer-to-peer learning model for rural social enterprises. As the programme progresses, participants take part in sessions combining practical training with reflective learning. The goal is not only to certify facilitators but also to build a long-term learning community capable of supporting rural social entrepreneurs across different contexts.
During the days in Galway, the group revisited key elements from earlier training and reflected on how their work had developed since the start. The programme consisted of discussions, exercises, and practical sessions based on participants’ own cases and experiences from back home. Several participants expressed how meaningful the programme had been for their development. As Tiina Varjamo from Finland described:
– After these days, I understand the overall picture and the different parts of the leadership programme better. It now feels alot easier to go home and use everything I have learned to coach and facilitate other social entrepreneurs.
Programme highlights
The focus areas included:
- Sharing insights from the MERSE Leadership Training Programme.
- Identifying and discussing challenges in supporting rural social entrepreneurs.
- Discovering common experiences and opportunities across borders.
- Learning through study visits to social enterprises on the Aran Islands.
One highlight was the study visit to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands, where the group met local social entrepreneurs guided by Micheál Ó Conghaile from Údarás na Gaeltachta. Participants learned about their business models, the local rural context they operate in, and the social value they create. The visit at Inis Mór was particularly inspiring, said several of the participants of the leadership programme. As Eileen Davis from Ireland put it:
– I feel very inspired! It was especially inspiring seeing and hearing how others work with social enterprises and also how they facilitate other social entrepreneurs. I will go home and use this energy and knowledge when I meet the entrepreneurs I coach back home.
What the participants take with them
Despite working in different parts of the Nordic and North Atlantic regions, it became clear that social enterprises share many similar challenges and opportunities. The opportunity to reconnect, reflect on their role as facilitators for other entrepreneurs, and learn from one another was highly valued. The joy of being together again, combined with an engaging programme, strengthened both their skills and confidence. The network within the leadership programme grew even stronger across national borders.
Learn more about the MERSE Leadership Training Programme
In 2024, the MERSE project partners recruited a total of 12 rural social enterprises from the five participating regions within the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA). These enterprises took part in approximately 1.5 years of leadership training through the Leadership Training Programme, designed to test new methods, transfer successful practices, and develop a peer-to-peer learning model for rural social enterprises.
