• Nisha Yallapragada

Social enterprises are powerful drivers of social change, employing entrepreneurial strategies to address pressing societal challenges. Operating at the intersection of business and social impact, these organizations prioritize societal change over profitability, requiring employees to possess unique skill sets. At the core of their mission are "change agents"— their employees tasked with implementing sustainable solutions through community engagement, social impact measurement, and sustainable development. Despite the critical role of training in preparing employees for these challenges, there is limited research on how social enterprises design training programs that align with their dual-purpose missions. Resource constraints often hinder the development of comprehensive training frameworks, leaving gaps in equipping employees with the necessary skills to achieve social objectives. This research paper examines the initiatives social enterprises take to develop employee skills that drive social impact. It identifies gaps in current training frameworks and proposes strategies to enhance capacity building and employee empowerment. The study aims to provide actionable insights to strengthen training and development as a catalyst for sustainable growth and social innovation. For the study, the researcher surveyed employees working in social enterprises in Mumbai and the Pune Metropolitan Region, gathering insights from 800 respondents. The study revealed that while these enterprises conduct regular Orientation programs for all new entrants, not many organizations strategize their training programs and invest in skilling and reskilling their employees for better productivity. The findings of the study highlight the importance of fostering a positive learning environment that prioritizes employee growth not only for enhancing individual performance but also for ensuring the overall success and long-term sustainability of the organization.

Training and Development, capacity building, social enterprises, productivity, skilling, reskilling.

"Fostering Growth: Analysing Training and Development Practices in Social Enterprises of Mumbai and Pune region", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no.h583-h587, March-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2503772.pdf

"Fostering Growth: Analysing Training and Development Practices in Social Enterprises of Mumbai and Pune region", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 3, page no. pph583-h587, March-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2503772.pdf