Report

Outside-In: The role of social entrepreneurs in public sector transformation

This report from UK think tank City-REDI explores the role of social entrepreneurs as ‘outside-in’ actors in public sector transformation.

This policy paper explores the role of social entrepreneurs as “outside-in” actors in public sector transformation. It argues that, in a period of profound institutional transition, public systems need to learn not only from within formal structures but also from actors operating at their boundaries.

The briefing examines how social entrepreneurs generate practice-based learning, test new approaches, and help public institutions adapt to complex challenges such as health inequalities, social fragmentation, and declining trust.

Public sector leaders should recognise, relate to, and resource social entrepreneurs as a vital source of outside-in system capacity. This means creating more porous institutional boundaries, investing in relational learning spaces, and reforming commissioning and governance so that practice-based learning can inform long-term system change.