Groundbreaking research on facilitating New Migrant Business Development

Many new migrants establish their own businesses, a process of great importance for their economic integration. Yet there has been little research on their enterprises or experiences of business support. So, for the past two years Ashley Community Housing (ACH) and The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) have been collaborating on a programme of knowledge exchange and research to develop the evidence base and practical support for migrants in business.

ACH is a dynamic and growing social enterprise with a proven track-record of supporting new arrived migrants to settle in the UK. CREME’s Professor Monder Ram OBE has extensive experience of working in, researching and acting as a consultant to ethnic minority businesses. He is a leading authority on ethnic minority entrepreneurship research and has published widely on the subject.

The groundbreaking research was officially launched at the CREME 21 Ethnic Minority Business Conference at the Nishkam Centre in Birmingham on 3^rd October. The report focuses on migrant entrepreneurs in Birmingham, their aspirations and the challenges they face to set up their own businesses in the city. It also offers several recommendations to improve the situation for migrant entrepreneurs, including:

• Providing training related to language skills, legal requirements, access to finance, and business management.
• Setting up mentoring schemes within the community that would boost aspirations and capabilities.

“There is no doubt. The economic case for migrants’ contribution to the UK is watertight. Migrants make an unequivocal contribution, as employees and as entrepreneurs.” Professor Monder Ram OBE, Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship, University of Birmingham.

You can read the full research report at http://www.ashleyhousing.com/about-us/research/

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Editor’s Notes:

For further information please contact:

Matthew Rogers, Marketing & Communications Officer
Email: matthew.rogers@ashleyhousing.com
Tel: 0117 941 5339
Website: www.ashleyhousing.com

About Ashley Community Housing

Ashley Community Housing (ACH) was established in 2008 as a social enterprise specialising in the economic, social and civil integration of refugees through accommodation and community based training support. We have successfully resettled over 2000 individuals from refugee backgrounds in this time.

We employ 60 staff and operate in the West of England and the West Midlands as a strategic partner for local authorities and government prime contractors. Through the establishment of our subsidiary training arm 'Himilo Training' we are committed to supporting refugees through work experience, language training, IT literacy and employability skills.

Our #rethinkingrefugee programme is considered outstanding and reflects our commitment to making sure refugees become part of society rather than remaining marginalised and under-employed.

www.ashleyhousing.com @AshleyCHousing