Barriers to ethnic minority and women’s enterprise: Existing evidence, policy tensions and unsettled questions

Sara Carter,Samuel Mwaura,Kiran Trehan,Monder Ram,Trevor Jones

doi:10.1177/0266242614556823

Sara Carter, Samuel Mwaura + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242614556823

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Abstract

This article presents an overarching review of the evidence regarding enterprise diversity. It discusses the context of ethnic minorities and women in enterprise and summarises research evidence relating to their relative access to finance, market selection and management skills. Policy within the field of diversity and enterprise is characterised by a number of tensions and unresolved questions including the presence of perceived or actual discrimination, the quantity and quality of ethnic minority and women-led businesses, potential market failure in the support provided to diverse enterprises and the substantive uniqueness of ethnic minority and women-led enterprises. Particular implications for policy and practice as well as directions for future research are discussed.

Highlights

A notable feature of the enterprise policy discourse in the United Kingdom is the longstanding concern that entrepreneurial ambitions, participation and fortunes are unevenly distributed across social groups
Two groups have captured the particular attention of policy-makers: ethnic minorities and women, and both have been the focus of concerted efforts by successive governments aiming to increase enterprise levels (Small Business Service, 2003)
Ethnic minority businesses (EMBs), many of which operate in highly visible sectors such as retailing and catering, have been valued for their role in promoting social cohesion and multiculturalism

Summary

Introduction

A notable feature of the enterprise policy discourse in the United Kingdom is the longstanding concern that entrepreneurial ambitions, participation and fortunes are unevenly distributed across social groups (see, for example, Parker, 2004; Ram and Jones, 2008; Southern, 2011). Two groups have captured the particular attention of policy-makers: ethnic minorities and women, and both have been the focus of concerted efforts by successive governments aiming to increase enterprise levels (Small Business Service, 2003).

Results

Conclusion