Takeaways from webinar on supporting social enterprise

Cross-border learning to strengthen rural social enterprises

The webinar opened with an introduction to the MERSE project, which is a European initiative aimed at supporting social enterprises in rural areas. The project focuses on three key components: cross-border learning, an online training platform, and tools for measuring social impact. The overall goal is to equip social enterprises with the skills, networks, and evidence needed to grow, collaborate, and demonstrate their value.

Changing labour market mindsets – Lessons from the NOI Project

Sara Wallentin, representing Coompanion who runs the Swedish NOI project, highlighted the importance of addressing attitudes and structural barriers within the labour market. NOI works to create more inclusive recruitment processes for people who are often marginalised, in close collaboration with employers and public-sector actors.

The project uses public procurement as a strategic lever for inclusion, supports the development of employer networks, and provides training for managers and mentors. At its core, NOI challenges traditional views of competence and advocates for a labour market that recognises diverse skills and experiences.

Language, culture and economic development in Irish-speaking regions

Micheál Ó Conghaile from Údarás na Gaeltachta, presented the organisation’s role in fostering economic, social, and cultural development in Ireland’s Irish-speaking regions. The organisation supports community development bodies, social enterprises, and initiatives that promote the Irish language as a living part of local economies.

He outlined their social enterprise strategy, which includes mentoring support, access to funding, and a new graduate programme scheduled to launch next year. Participation in EU programmes and international partnerships was highlighted as a key pathway for strengthening the social enterprise sector and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Public–civil society partnerships in practice, the case of Östersund municipality

From Sweden, Effie Kourlos, Vice Mayor of Östersund Municipality, shared insights into how a mid-sized municipality of around 65,000 inhabitants is working to attract new residents while supporting labour market integration. She described the municipality’s use of Idea-Based Public Partnerships (IBPPs) with civil society organisations such as Hello Stranger and Save the Children, particularly in socio-economically vulnerable areas. Effie also highlighted the use of reserved contracts, enabling social enterprises to participate in municipal procurement and create employment opportunities for people who may not yet have full proficiency in Swedish.

These initiatives were presented as essential tools for preventing social exclusion and addressing labour shortages in a municipality with low unemployment.

Social enterprise as a regional development tool

Anne Graham, Social Enterprise and Innovation Manager at the Western Development Commission (WDC), emphasised the crucial role of social enterprises in rural regions. The WDC advises government, manages regional funds, and provides loans and grants to support social enterprises across western Ireland. Anne highlighted the sector’s contribution to tackling local challenges, creating employment, and fostering community ownership. She also shared data on the scale of the social enterprise sector in Ireland and showcased successful examples from the western region. In concluding, she offered guidance on ecosystem development, stressing the importance of mapping support structures, strengthening networks, and raising awareness.

Returning to the topic of finance, Anne Graham noted that Ireland’s community loan sector has a low default rate of around three percent, which she attributed to highly motivated organisations and temporary COVID-related support measures. She also mentioned early discussions around a potential National Social Innovation Hub that could help scale successful social enterprise models in the future.

Scaling social innovation: Rethink Ireland

The webinar concluded with Clare Allen, Head of Social Enterprise at Rethink Ireland, who presented the organisation’s work in funding and supporting social innovation across the country. Since 2016, Rethink Ireland has mobilised over $109 million through a venture philanthropy model, supporting hundreds of initiatives that have reached more than one million people.

Clare emphasised that funding is paired with strategic support in areas such as impact management, strategic planning, and financial resilience. She also introduced the Social Innovation Hub, a new €9.8 million initiative designed to support social innovations through pilot funding, scaling grants, and capacity building, with the aim of creating a more cohesive and sustainable social enterprise ecosystem.

Key takeaways from the webinar 

The webinar demonstrated the vital role social enterprises play in shaping the future of rural areas as employers, innovators and connectors between the public sector, civil society and the market. Through collaboration, long-term investment and a willingness to rethink established systems, social enterprises are helping to build more inclusive and resilient regions.