Building a world of lasting change

19 Sep 2024

DCC plc is a long-term supporter of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, which helps turn solutions to social problems into reality. Chief Executive Donal Murphy explains how the benefits of the partnership cut both ways

We’re proud to work with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI), a not-for-profit organisation that partners with people with great ideas for solving social problems. By running an Ideas Academy, an Impact Programme, a Changing Ireland Accelerator Programme and much more, SEI helps entrepreneurs develop solutions and take action. They supply the rocket fuel so entrepreneurs can take the important first steps from start-up to scale-up.

“When you look at the range of social issues in this country, here is an organisation looking to turn the great ideas social entrepreneurs have into something that can be scaled and have real impact. That’s the real key to this,” says DCC Chief Executive Donal Murphy.

The partnership is a great fit for our culture at DCC: we similarly use group expertise to scale up innovative solutions for industry challenges – the difference being that we do it on a commercial basis.

“We spend our time with commercially focused businesses creating wealth. For social entrepreneurs, their primary purpose is making life better for people. It’s a very uplifting feeling knowing you are doing something to support that,” Donal says. “That’s one of the main reasons we got involved.”

“Social Entrepreneurs Ireland launched us. There’s no other way to describe it”

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has had some amazing success stories over the past two decades, each of them driven by passion and ambition. Social enterprises like FoodCloud (fighting food waste) and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (health and wellbeing), AsIAm (Ireland’s national autism charity) and CoderDojo (free coding clubs for kids and teens) all say they wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for SEI.

“It has launched us. There’s no other way to describe it – Social Entrepreneurs Ireland launched us into what has become a successful, impactful and respected training programme for healthcare professionals nationwide and internationally,” says Liz Gleeson, who founded Shapes of Grief to improve grief literacy.

Some entrepreneurs get moral support just when they need it: “When I received an award from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland it was validation of my idea,” says Clare Mulvany of Thrive School, which takes a new approach to learning. “It was a boost to my confidence and gave me the drive to continue.” Others like Stephen Clusky and Noelle Daly of Mobility Mojo credit the “vast resources, people and network” and “the strong team behind us” for supporting them on their mission to create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone.

SEI in figures

4.5 billion tonnes of fossil oil is consumed every year
€2.5 million
DCC’s donation to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland since 2011
40%  of oil consumption will be biofuels by 2040
600
The number of entrepreneurs Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has helped in two decades
90% reduced carbon emissions delivered by HVO
500
Guests on the list for The Gathering in 2024

“Getting the team involved in pro bono work is equally – if not more – important”

DCC’s long-standing relationship with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland goes back 13 years to 2011 and we’ve donated around €2.5 million in that time. We decided to focus resources where they can do most good.

“We get a lot of people knocking on our door and we’ve learned that you can’t support everything,” explains Donal. “We saw that our contributions to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland were making a tangible difference, and that’s why we decided to concentrate our resources in this area,” he says.

Donal believes that the time and expertise that donors like DCC give are as valuable as cash. “Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has the ability to get your people involved where they can make a real difference,” he says. He takes part in panels that hear Dragons’ Den-style pitches from would-be entrepreneurs. Together with peers and colleagues, he’s been a mentor for those who have vision but lack the commercial experience to back it up.

“Some entrepreneurs don’t have the training or knowledge of how to budget or do cash flow forecasts and some may not know the intricacies involved in managing their HR function,” he says, and so DCC, along with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s other supporters, offers pro bono help.

“It’s relatively easy to just write a cheque, and we’re happy to provide money from our own corporate social responsibility perspective. The harder bit is getting people in your team more deeply involved and we’ve managed to do that, which for me is equally – if not more – important,” Donal says.

“If you could just bottle that feeling, you’d have something really special”

It’s an example of how we like to find out what really matters to our host communities and how we engage with them, while reinforcing our own culture that values diversity, innovation and community. The benefits cut both ways: by pitching in, our people feel good, grow and develop too.

A highlight of the year for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s team, alumni and supporters is the annual event known as The Gathering, a get-together to share stories, mark progress and spend time with friends old and new. This year’s Gathering had something extra to celebrate as it’s SEI’s 20th anniversary. Bigger than ever, with 500 guests, it was the chance to take stock of two decades of hard work, showcase today’s most exciting changemakers, and enjoy panel discussions and live performances.

SEI has helped more than 600 entrepreneurs in its two decades. They may have diverse backgrounds and interests, but what they all have in common is that they are society’s problem solvers, looking beyond the current way of doing things and blazing a trail to a brighter future for everyone.

“Anybody who goes to The Gathering walks out inspired by the energy and positivity in that room,” says Donal. “I often say to the people who run Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, if you could just bottle that feeling, you’d have something really special.”

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