Obstacles holding back UK’s ethnic minority entrepreneurs
New research, published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), shows ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) contributed a staggering £25 billion to the UK economy in 2018 - equivalent to the economic contribution of Greater Manchester – but many are being held back by barriers which hinder their growth. The report reveals:
- EMBs are more innovative and more likely to export than their non-EMB counterparts.
- EMBs are often detached from mainstream business support, and struggle disproportionately when it comes to accessing finance.
- COVID-19 has brought structural inequalities in the UK to the fore, with many EMBs on the COVID-19 coalface, including corner shop owners.
A new report, FSB Unlocking Opportunity has highlighted the economic value of ethnic minority businesses in the UK.
The research, carried out in association with Aston University’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME), found that ethnic minority business owners were more likely to export than non EMB owners in every region.
EMBs were found to be more innovative than non-ethnic minority firms, with 30 per cent of EMBs engaging in recent product or service innovation, 11 percentage points higher than their non-EMB counterparts.
Many ethnic minority entrepreneurs have struggled to access external finance to help their business survive and grow. To unlock the full potential of the UK’s EMBs, the report calls on the Government to introduce a scheme to improve ethnic minority access to external finance.
An FSB member who owns a marketing agency said: “I think the lack of networks is a factor in access to finance. I have a PHD and a MBA. My digital marketing agency is successful, so I feel I have all the things investors say they want from candidates that are seeking investment, yet I’m refused.”
Over a 16-year period, nearly 30 per cent of people on average in the Black population were typically involved in thinking about, setting up or operating a business venture, nearly twice the level of the non-ethnic population. However only 3 per cent of respondents over time have been reported as running a start-up or a young business with limited variation between sub-groups. This suggests that a high number of nascent black entrepreneurs do not realise their vision.
As the COVID-19 recession unfolds, the employment gap between ethnic minorities and non-ethnic minorities is likely to worsen. The report recommends that the Government should recognise the important role that self-employment can play, and that the New Enterprise Allowance should be scaled up to help people into self-employment.
The report also calls for a comprehensive and regular national study of ethnic minority entrepreneurship in the UK, so we can better assess trends and target business support. Improving our understanding of how ethnic businesses are evolving is key to understanding the changing needs of all small businesses.
FSB National Chairman Mike Cherry, said:
“This new research shines a spotlight on the important contribution made by ethnic minority businesses to the UK economy.
“If we unlock opportunities for ethnic minority entrepreneurs, this will benefit the UK as a whole. We know from this research that EMBs are incredibly innovative and the Government must harness this by ensuring they are not left out of national strategies and are able to play a vital role as part of a diverse public procurement framework.
“As we look to the immediate economic impact of the pandemic, we know from research by the Enterprise Research Centre that many EMBs have less resilience than the business population as a whole. With a high proportion of EMBs operating on the ‘metaphorical frontline’ in their communities, the Government should look to target business support, especially as EMBs traditionally have had lower engagement with mainstream support.
“Alongside the economic contribution EMBs make, we must also note the vital role they play in contributing to the social value in our communities, by creating jobs and wealth, but also enhancing the social fabric in our society, something which is much harder to quantify, but has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“FSB is committed to championing an inclusive small business community that moves away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to policy, and towards one that caters to the ever changing needs of different ethnic minority businesses.”
Director of CREME at Aston Business School Professor Monder Ram, said:
“This landmark study by CREME, the ERC and FSB provides a compelling business case for ethnic minority entrepreneurship. It highlights the vital contribution of ethnic minority businesses and demonstrates their strengths in trade, innovation, and entrepreneurial growth. The qualities will be indispensable to the post COVID-19 recovery.”
Click here to download a copy of the FSB Unlocking Opportunity report.
About FSB
As the UK’s largest business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed.
FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and support along with a powerful voice in Government. Each year FSB also runs the UK’s Celebrating Small Business Awards. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.
