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Entrepreneurialism
in Ethnic Minority Communities in Basingstoke
Today Enterprise Solutions will launch a unique report exploring the factors
influencing
the decisions of members of Basingstoke’s communities with overseas
heritage to
become entrepreneurs.
Basingstoke’s population had changed as inward migration from overseas
and
internal migration had brought increased numbers of ethnic minority communities.
We wanted to find out about their views and hear their voices to identify
a number of:
factors motivating them to go into business, barriers experienced when
setting up a
business, business needs of former, current and would-be business people.
The report, Pride
and Achievement’ Entrepreneurialism in Basingstoke’s
communities with overseas heritage, will also be launched
with the action
programme Participation Through Enterprise
in Basingstoke.
The survey reveals that Members of Basingstoke’s ethnic minorities
communities are
interested in self employment but do not know where to go and how to get
the right
information. Furthermore, they felt differences between the cultures of
community
members, other communities and that of the host community was a major
barrier to
setting up.
Survey participants indicated they needed: to gain experience of doing
business in
the UK, opportunities to improve English language skills, business information
in a
simple format, business support available in a range of formats, access
to resources, in particular finance, to set up and run the business and
a supportive network of business and specialist business advice.
Annie Noble Director of Enterprise Solutions said, ‘whilst Basingstoke
has low
unemployment there are those in employment considering setting up in business.
Data gathered for the survey indicates wide spread dissatisfaction with
their
employment namely borne from the effects of the ‘ethnic penalty
as a push factor.
This is defined as discrimination linked to ethnicity, skin colour, difference
in speech
and ideas of acceptable behaviour. Members of Basingstoke’s ethnic
minority
communities generally do not, will not and did not know how to access
main stream
enterprise support service. Our new enterprise programme is designed to
help to
bridge that gap’.
A male participant who took part in the research explained why he would
go into
business: ‘‘More freedom than you have in employment and with
an employer –
stressful but enjoyable. It’s a sense of pride and achievement’.
The report will be launched on Monday 12th January 2009 from, 5:30 –
7:30 pm. This
will be attended by Mayor of Basingstoke - Cllr George Hood, Basingstoke
Councilors,
local ethnic minority business owners and the Equalities and Human Rights
Commission. In addition, representatives of the ethnic minority communities
in
Basingstoke, community stakeholders and enterprise agencies will attend.
The event
will take place at: Grove House, Luytens Close, Basingstoke, RG24 8AG.
For further
information please contact us or call 01256
338451 |
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