In October 2024, the OBCD project team joined Tampere Sarka’s podcast ”Työn Sarkaa” to discuss about the importance of social enterprises, international collaboration, and learning. The idea for the podcast episode emerged during the OBCD project Bootcamp held in Rome last July. OBCD was represented in the discussion by Eeva Salmi from Silta-Valmennusyhdistys, Helena Miettinen from Helsinki Business College, and Tanja Kulmala, Community Manager at Tampereen Sarka, one of the members of the OBCD ecosystem, who also joined the conversation. The episode was hosted by Riho Laurisaar,
The discussion highlighted the importance of cross-border collaboration among social enterprises and how working together can foster new learning and development. Eeva Salmi highlighted the need to expand current levels of international collaboration. She emphasized the need for more knowledge and expertise, particularly on how to apply for international funding and where to find international partners. Helena Miettinen and Tanja Kulmala shared their experiences from the OBCD Bootcamp, which gathered twenty participants from four EU countries to network, collaborate, and pilot OBCD training. “Everyone who joins international cooperation always learns something new,” Miettinen noted, while Kulmala emphasized the shared mission of social enterprises across Europe, stating that although their approaches may differ, the commitment to social impact unites them all.
The discussion also explored the essential need for skills development within social entrepreneurship. Through its open MOOC courses, the OBCD project provides training for common challenges in the field, such as improving business expertise and financial skills. Eeva Salmi noted that young people are very interested in responsible business practices but lack accessible learning resources. There are not many possibilities to learn about social entrepreneurship in school. Helena Miettinen, representing an education institution, explained that Helsinki Business College previously focused mainly on traditional entrepreneurship. However, through the OBCD project, there is now a growing interest in including social entrepreneurship topics within their offerings. This development is also taking place in universities of applied sciences, where efforts are being made to highlight these themes. Tanja Kulmala also added that interest in learning opportunities extends beyond students to current professionals in the field. She herself had piloted OBCD’s MOOC materials and intended to continue her learning journey: “I plan to study every module,” Kulmala said.
At the end of the podcast, the participants discussed what changes they would like to see in order to create better conditions for social enterprises in the future. What steps need to be taken to move things forward? Salmi emphasized that social enterprises need greater visibility and recognition, both within society and in political documents. She believes these businesses should be widely acknowledged for their ability to address social issues. Miettinen highlighted the importance of education and stressed the need for networking, meeting people, and collaborating. Kulmala added that local networking is crucial, noting that small players can gain more influence through cooperation.
When asked how to increase visibility for social enterprises, Salmi mentioned efforts to influence at all levels—locally, nationally, and internationally, especially within the EU. Kulmala pointed out that Finland also needs a central instance to advocate for social enterprises, a role currently filled by YYO, the Center of Expertise for Social Enterprises. Miettinen concluded by emphasizing that each of us can raise awareness by sharing information with our own networks, having conversations, and building connections.
The podcast provided listeners with valuable insights into how social entrepreneurship can be fostered both locally and internationally. The OBCD project remains committed to supporting these objectives and hopes that social entrepreneurship will continue to gain recognition and backing across Europe.
Text: Tiina Sassali
Text is written based on Työn Sarkaa podcast episode published by Tampereen Sarka 30.10.2024. Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Nui1vxjPtEu4Z82vRkm2S?si=i0OlJdINRpqGM9HGm0xGPA&nd=1&dlsi=11baae7f7c034a27. The podcast is in Finnish.
