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Scaling a social enterprise can feel like the only way to prove you are “serious”, but that pressure can quietly push brilliant organisations into growth they are not ready for. I’m joined by Clodagh O’Reilly, an Irish social enterprise practitioner turned researcher, to unpack what scaling really involves and why slowing down can be the most strategic move you make. We get into the reality behind the headline numbers: the messy middle where your mission, your income model, your capacity, and your leadership all collide.

Clodagh shares what she learned from years of practice and her PhD research into social enterprise scaling, including the questions too many teams skip while they rush into staffing, operations, and financing. We talk about proving your concept, pulling your model apart to find the critical success factors, and avoiding the trap of “scaling on shaky ground”. We also challenge the idea that every organisation must expand sites or turnover, exploring alternative scaling pathways such as sharing your model, influencing policy, changing behaviours, partnering well, and even considering mergers where it strengthens long-term impact.

We also zoom out to the social enterprise ecosystem in Ireland: what is improving, where support is still thin for later-stage growth, and how social procurement and public sector tenders are evolving. You’ll hear why consortium bids are becoming more common, what readiness really looks like for public contracts, and how EU funding could play a bigger role. If you care about social impact, impact measurement, sustainable growth, and practical strategy for mission-led organisations, you’ll leave with clearer thinking and sharper questions.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with someone building social change, then tell us what smart scaling looks like in your work.

Find out more about Clodagh's work at: https://www.socialenterprisesolutions.ie/

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Hi, I'm Heidi Fisher, the host of the Make an Impact Podcast. I'm an impact measurement expert, passionate about helping you make a bigger impact in the world by maximising the impact your services have.

I can help you to measure, manage and communicate the impact you have better to funders, investors, commissioners and other stakeholders, and to systemise your data collection and analysis so that it frees up time and doesn't become an additional burden.

I love helping you to measure social and economic impacts, including Social Return on Investment or value for money assessments, as part of understanding the change you make to peoples' lives.

You can get in touch via LinkedIn or the website makeanimpactcic.co.uk if you'd like to find out more about working with me.

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Charles Rapson takes us on a fascinating journey through his accidental discovery of social enterprise and his current mission as Social Economy Growth Lead at West Midlands Combined Authority. With refreshing candour, he shares how he's leveraging his position to champion a sector that employs over 100,000 people and engages 200,000+ volunteers across the West Midlands.

The conversation reveals how Charles has successfully shifted perceptions of the social economy within regional government, securing £2.5 million in funding and ensuring social enterprises feature prominently in strategic planning. His innovative place-based approach is rebuilding vital infrastructure by supporting nine organisations to become community hubs where relationships, trust, and partnerships can flourish.

We dive deep into the challenges of social value procurement, with Charles articulating a compelling vision for moving beyond tick-box exercises to measuring real impact. His practical strategies - breaking down large contracts into manageable lots, making social value contractual and measurable, recognising intrinsic value alongside additional value - offer a blueprint for procurement that genuinely supports inclusive growth.

Looking ahead, Charles outlines his comprehensive ecosystem approach to growing the social economy, encompassing everything from business support and access to finance to education initiatives modelled on Scotland's successful Social Enterprise Academy. His determination to map and understand the region's 9,314 social economy organisations demonstrates a data-driven approach to strategic investment.

Whether you're a social entrepreneur seeking opportunities, a public sector professional interested in procurement innovation, or simply curious about how regional economies can become more inclusive, this conversation offers valuable insights into transforming systems from within. Visit the West Midlands Combined Authority website and join their Social Economy Forums to learn more and help shape the future of social enterprise in your region.

Support the show

Hi, I'm Heidi Fisher, the host of the Make an Impact Podcast. I'm an impact measurement expert, passionate about helping you make a bigger impact in the world by maximising the impact your services have.

I can help you to measure, manage and communicate the impact you have better to funders, investors, commissioners and other stakeholders, and to systemise your data collection and analysis so that it frees up time and doesn't become an additional burden.

I love helping you to measure social and economic impacts, including Social Return on Investment or value for money assessments, as part of understanding the change you make to peoples' lives.

You can get in touch via LinkedIn or the website makeanimpactcic.co.uk if you'd like to find out more about working with me.

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What happens when a spare bedroom becomes the solution to both loneliness and housing affordability? Lucie Cunningham reveals the life-changing power of intergenerational home sharing in this thought-provoking conversation.

After witnessing elderly clients spending 21 hours alone each day in her home care work, Lucie founded THE HomeShare, a social enterprise that matches older homeowners with younger people seeking affordable accommodation. The concept creates a beautifully balanced relationship where elderly participants offer free housing while receiving companionship and practical support in return. "They become buddies, they become friends," Lucie explains, "and they both appreciate each other because they both need each other."

The impact is extraordinary. Eighty-three percent of elderly participants, whose average age is 87, report a greater sense of purpose. Hospital admissions drop by 42%, and falls decrease by 50%. One 103-year-old participant proclaimed that instead of "sitting in a nursing home waiting to die," she was enabling a young person to attend university. Meanwhile, younger participants gain affordable housing, with half eventually saving enough to purchase their own homes.

Beyond these direct benefits, home sharing creates ripple effects throughout communities. Family members visit "because they want to, not because they have to." Neighbours feel reassured. Healthcare systems experience reduced demand. The arrangement preserves dignity and independence while maximizing underutilized housing stock.

Despite proven success and a potential €1.53 return on investment for every euro spent, home sharing still struggles for governmental recognition. Lucie attributes this to fear of the unfamiliar, though THE HomeShare's robust safeguarding processes have prevented any significant issues across hundreds of matches.

Connect with Lucie via thehomeshare.ie or explore global options through homeshareinternational.org.

Support the show

Hi, I'm Heidi Fisher, the host of the Make an Impact Podcast. I'm an impact measurement expert, passionate about helping you make a bigger impact in the world by maximising the impact your services have.

I can help you to measure, manage and communicate the impact you have better to funders, investors, commissioners and other stakeholders, and to systemise your data collection and analysis so that it frees up time and doesn't become an additional burden.

I love helping you to measure social and economic impacts, including Social Return on Investment or value for money assessments, as part of understanding the change you make to peoples' lives.

You can get in touch via LinkedIn or the website makeanimpactcic.co.uk if you'd like to find out more about working with me.