This paper provides a first output from a major study on the methods being used to generate and grow social innovation around the world. These methods come from many fields-public policy, design, technology, business, community organising, the professions and social entrepreneurship. Some are used consciously as distinct methods, but many are not. Indeed, our research suggests that relatively few people working in the field have had the chance to reflect on the methods that they already use, and that even fewer are aware of the other methods in neighbouring fields which they could be using. As a whole, the field is less self‐aware than business, medicine or science. This is in part a symptom of relative newness. But one of the premises of this project is that greater awareness of methods will improve the practice, and success, of social innovation in fields as diverse as ageing, the environment, mental health,