Growth through acquisition isn’t just for large corporates and in the charity sector, it looks very different.
In this episode of Diary of an SME, OneYMCA shares how strategic mergers have played a key role in growing the organisation from £4 million to £40 million over 14 years. Rather than pursuing growth for its own sake, each merger has been driven by people, trust, mission alignment, and long-term social impact.
The conversation explores how charity mergers differ from traditional commercial takeovers, why trust and transparency take time to build, and how joining forces can unlock new skills, reach, and opportunities once organisations are fully aligned.
This episode offers valuable lessons for SME leaders, charity executives, and social enterprises considering acquisition as a route to sustainable growth — and the cultural and leadership challenges that come with it.