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Policies to support ethnic minority enterprise: the English experience

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  • Monder Ram
  • David Smallbone

Abstract

Continued political enthusiasm for encouraging entrepreneurship in the UK is beginning to influence business support policy towards black and minority ethnic businesses (BMEBs). The Small Business Service (SBS; the government agency charged with providing business support to small firms in England) has an explicit remit to cater for entrepreneurs from all sections of society. This is an important development given the widely noted reluctance of BMEBs to avail themselves of the services of mainstream business support agencies. This paper aims to assess the extent to which policy aspirations in relation to BMEBs have been realized. A survey of Business Links (the agencies contracted to deliver SBS services in England) and interviews with key informants are drawn upon to address three questions: To what extent do Business Links have a policy to support BMEBs? What form are initiatives to support BMEBs taking? How can these experiences inform a policy agenda towards BMEBs? The findings suggest that uneven and under-developed approaches to the support of BMEBS are commonplace. However, some encouraging examples of potentially fruitful initiatives are in evidence, which may reflect a growing awareness of the particular needs of BMEBs. A number of guidelines for future policy are presented, including the importance of diversity within mainstream provision; the need for an engagement strategy; improved access to finance; the promotion of sectoral diversity; and better evaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Monder Ram & David Smallbone, 2003. "Policies to support ethnic minority enterprise: the English experience," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 151-166, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:15:y:2003:i:2:p:151-166
    DOI: 10.1080/0898562032000075177
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    1. Oecd, 2002. "Access for Business," OECD Digital Economy Papers 67, OECD Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Wiers & Didier Chabaud, 2022. "Bibliometric analysis of immigrant entrepreneurship research 2009–2019," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 441-464, December.
    2. Mengdie Ruan & Angathevar Baskaran & Shanshan Zhou, 2022. "Mainland Chinese Immigrant-owned SMEs in Malaysia: Case Studies," Millennial Asia, , vol. 13(1), pages 5-34, April.
    3. Fergus Lyon & Leandro Sepulveda & Stephen Syrett, 2007. "Enterprising Refugees: Contributions and Challenges in Deprived Urban Areas," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 22(4), pages 362-375, November.
    4. Max Nathan & Neil Lee, 2013. "Cultural Diversity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: Firm-level Evidence from London," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 89(4), pages 367-394, October.
    5. Martin Beckinsale & Monder Ram, 2006. "Delivering ICT to Ethnic Minority Businesses: An Action-Research Approach," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 24(6), pages 847-867, December.
    6. Kevin Mole & Joan-Lluís Capelleras, 2018. "Take-up and variation of advice for new firm founders in different local contexts," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(1), pages 3-27, February.
    7. Trevor Jones & Monder Ram & Paul Edwards & Alexander Kiselinchev & Lovemore Muchenje, 2012. "New Migrant Enterprise: Novelty or Historical Continuity?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(14), pages 3159-3176, November.
    8. Martin K. Hingley & Adam Lindgreen & Michael B. Beverland, 2010. "Barriers to network innovation in UK ethnic fresh produce supply," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 77-96, January.
    9. B. Mathias & Sean Lux & T. Russell Crook & Chad Autry & Russell Zaretzki, 2015. "Competing Against the Unknown: The Impact of Enabling and Constraining Institutions on the Informal Economy," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 251-264, March.
    10. Mark Freel & Sara Carter & Stephen Tagg & Colin Mason, 2012. "The latent demand for bank debt: characterizing “discouraged borrowers”," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 399-418, May.
    11. Susan Bagwell, 2006. "UK Vietnamese Businesses: Cultural Influences and Intracultural Differences," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 24(1), pages 51-69, February.
    12. Neville, François & Orser, Barbara & Riding, Allan & Jung, Owen, 2014. "Do young firms owned by recent immigrants outperform other young firms?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 55-71.
    13. A. Arrighetti & D. Bolzani & A. Lasagni, 2013. "Motivazioni Imprenditoriali E Percorsi Evolutivi Dell’Impresa Etnica," Economics Department Working Papers 2013-EP03, Department of Economics, Parma University (Italy).
    14. José A. Belso Martínez, 2005. "Equilibrium entrepreneurship rate, economic development and growth. Evidence from Spanish regions," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(2), pages 145-161, March.
    15. Ratinho, Tiago & Amezcua, Alejandro & Honig, Benson & Zeng, Zhaocheng, 2020. "Supporting entrepreneurs: A systematic review of literature and an agenda for research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    16. Isidoro Romero & Zhikun Yu, 2015. "Analyzing the influence of social capital on self-employment: a study of Chinese immigrants," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 54(3), pages 877-899, May.
    17. Trevor Jones & Monder Ram, 2012. "Revisiting … Ethnic-Minority Businesses in the United Kingdom: A Review of Research and Policy Developments," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 30(6), pages 944-950, December.
    18. Jock Collins & Angeline Low, 2010. "Asian female immigrant entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized businesses in Australia," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 97-111, January.
    19. Monder Ram & Trevor Jones, 2008. "Ethnic-Minority Businesses in the UK: A Review of Research and Policy Developments," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 26(2), pages 352-374, April.
    20. Monder Ram & Kiran Trehan & John Rouse & Kassa Woldesenbet & Trevor Jones, 2012. "Ethnic Minority Business Support in the West Midlands: Challenges and Developments," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 30(3), pages 504-519, June.

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