The Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences at UIC Barcelona organised a round table focused on measuring the impact of businesses in the social and solidarity economy. The session, led by the dean of the Faculty, Dr Marta Mas, featured prominent experts: Mariona González, managing director of TeamLabs Barcelona; Clara Martínez, consultant at Tandem Social; and Jorge Muro, CFO of the TEB Cooperative Group.
The round table addressed the need to measure the social impact of companies, a key issue in the current context. Dr Marta Mas, in her introduction, highlighted that “it is essential to ask questions at university about how businesses can contribute to society through their impact.”
Clara Martínez explained that although many businesses are already aware of this dimension, standardising metrics is crucial. “In the social economy, tools such as the social balance, promoted by the Xarxa d’Economia Solidària, help identify the elements that make a business socially impactful,” she said. She also mentioned that there are other tools adaptable to the needs of each project, which allow comparing indicators across businesses.
Mariona González referred to the Impact Management Project, an international platform that brings together more than 3,000 actors and defines methodologies for measuring impact. “Everything has an impact, both positive and negative. The key is to answer questions like: What impact do we generate? Who benefits? How much do we contribute? What risks are there?” she explained. This platform uses methodologies such as the 5 dimensions of impact, which help organisations assess their contribution in a structured way.
Jorge Muro delved into the history of the TEB Cooperative Group, which has been creating employment and promoting independent living for people with disabilities for six decades. “We have a guardianship foundation that takes care of those who need it. One of the questions we ask when evaluating a project is whether it can generate employment for people with disabilities. If the answer is no, the project does not move forward. The basis of our action is creating work and employment,” he explained.
The speakers agreed that purpose must be at the core of any organisation aiming to generate a positive impact. This round table is part of the Social Economy programme, an initiative led by the Generalitat de Catalunya. UIC Barcelona will hold another round table on Financing Social Enterprises on 9 April at 10 a.m.
© 2026 Universitat Internacional de Catalunya