A groundbreaking new report titled "Ethnic Minority & Migrant Entrepreneurship Northern Ireland" was recently launched by the Ethnic Minority Employment & Entrepreneurship Network (EMEEN) in collaboration with Ulster University Business School and Inclusive Entrepreneurship NI. As the first of its kind, this pioneering initial report sheds light on the landscape for ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.
The report's findings are eye-opening. While Northern Ireland has experienced rapid growth in ethnic minority and migrant populations, quadrupling between 2001 and 2021, there is a glaring lack of clear policy direction to support entrepreneurship within these groups. For example, in 2021 7.1% of Belfast's population identified as ethnic minorities, yet current strategies fail to address minority entrepreneurship in a meaningful way.
Dr. M Satish Kumar, Director of the Ethnic Minority Employment & Entrepreneurship Network (EMEEN), delivered the keynote speech at the launch event for the groundbreaking report on ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.
In his wide-ranging speech, Dr. Kumar provided an overview of EMEEN's mission to maximize the economic capacity of ethnic minority professionals in Northern Ireland. He spoke passionately about the tremendous potential for ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship to catalyze economic growth, boost innovation, and enhance community relations across the country.
Highlighting key data and insights from the report, Dr. Kumar emphasized the largely untapped potential within ethnic minority and migrant communities for entrepreneurial ventures that can create jobs, generate wealth, and make significant economic contributions. He stressed that with inclusive policies and support systems, ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurs could have an immensely positive impact
According to Steve Pollard, one of the report's authors, "With an expanding ethnic minority and migrant population, the need to nurture and grow this relatively untapped pool for entrepreneurship has never been greater." The report stresses that ethnic minorities and migrants present enormous economic potential for Northern Ireland, and that migrant entrepreneurship could be a powerful tool for increasing economic contribution, innovation, and social integration.
For instance, the report highlights that in 2018, 5.4% of SMEs in the UK were led by ethnic minorities, and these businesses tend to be more ambitious and growth-oriented. Key statistics show migrant entrepreneurial activity in Northern Ireland was 1.3% higher than lifelong residents between 2012-2014, and 4.5% higher than the NI average between 2019-2021.
To fully tap into the potential of ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship, the report recommends revolutionary changes, including vastly improved data collection methods, convening a roundtable of key stakeholders, and developing Northern Ireland-specific policies and holistic support systems for diverse entrepreneurs.
Dr. Laura Bradley, one of the report’s authors, stated: “Ethnic minorities and migrants present significant economic potential, and migrant entrepreneurship is potentially a central tool in enabling not only increased economic contribution but also greater social integration into Northern Ireland.”
EMEEN Founder and Director Steve Lazars who was the mastermind behind the development of this report, raved that this report represents a truly historic breakthrough in understanding ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland. It is vital to develop a national level strategy to promote economic empowerment and integration of ethnic minority and migrant professionals living in this country."
Dr. Halla Iqbal, who is the research and development coordinator for EMEEN, emphasized EMEEN's collaboration with Ulster University Business School to maximize the economic capacity of every ethnic minority professional in the country. It is time to move this conversation forward to make an impact on the ground.
With insights directly from entrepreneurs themselves, the report thoroughly covers the barriers, challenges, and opportunities facing ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland. Quotes from entrepreneurs interviewed include:
"There is huge work to be done to help ethnic minorities to integrate into the business ecosystem in NI. I think EMEEN will play an important role in making this happen."
"I deeply care about the Northern Ireland economic development; this is my home and my country."
The report highlights barriers including access to funding and resources, lack of tailored support and lack of collaboration in the existing business support community to engage with minority ethnic entrepreneurs. However, it also emphasizes the eagerness of ethnic minority entrepreneurs to contribute to economic growth in Northern Ireland.
A diverse range of stakeholders have an important role to play in supporting ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland. Key stakeholders that need to be engaged include policymakers in the Northern Ireland Executive and related government agencies, business and entrepreneurship organizations, academic institutions, nonprofits focused on inclusion and minority issues, funding bodies, successful minority entrepreneurs, and of course ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurs themselves.
Collaboration between these groups is vital to gain a comprehensive understanding of the barriers, challenges, and opportunities in this space. Joint initiatives can have immense impact, for example the partnership between EMEEN and Ulster University Business School that produced this groundbreaking report. With coordinated efforts that draw on the unique expertise of different stakeholders, Northern Ireland can make great strides in unleashing the potential of ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship.
Overall, this initial report makes a compelling case that ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship represents a significantly untapped sector that, with the proper inclusive policies and support systems, could greatly boost Northern Ireland's economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion. It should serve as an urgent call to action for policymakers and stakeholders to come together and create a more inclusive environment for diverse entrepreneurs. The time is now to revolutionise support for ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship in Northern Ireland.