Policy Context and Legal Framework

Over the past century, businesses set up by migrant communities have made an increasingly substantial contribution to many national economies across Europe. In the UK, for example, ethnic minorities are estimated to be 60% more likely to start their own business than the rest of the population (with those of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin leading the way), and such businesses contribute approximately £15 billion to the British economy every year.

The policy context for migrant-led entrepreneurialism in Europe has shifted significantly in recent years as a result of changing geo-political circumstances and diverse migration flows. Following the expansion of the European Union in 2004 and 2007 to a further twelve member states, inter-EU movement and the potential for business development across borders has been boosted. Many Eastern European countries such as Romania and Poland have now become significant ‘sending countries’ for people now able to exercise their right to self-employment across the EU. Numbers of refugees and economic migrants moving from countries within Africa and the Middle East to the European Union have also substantially increased since the early 1990s.

The recent growth in immigrant communities across their EU, and their highly diverse nature, has significant implications for the ability of migrant communities to develop new enterprises. The business development patterns of new communities vary substantially, with particular support needs emerging. In particular, immigrants are less likely to take up business training than other groups, whilst business-training organizations are often poorly equipped to train immigrants. Individuals from immigrant communities often face other barriers to mainstream business development through lack of language skills, unfamiliarity with institutional frameworks and absence of clear and targeted guidance. Targeted business support, especially in dynamic areas such as entrepreneurship is essential, if immigrants are to fulfil their potential as individuals and as contributors to economic growth and social stability.

The aim of EU-IMMINENT (Immigrants into Entrepreneurship) is to redress this imbalance by effectively identifying and training immigrants as entrepreneurs, by  providing tailoring learning support via a multi-lingual web-site to immigrants who may be considering setting up their own business. The project will also inform business trainers, business VET providers and policy makers about the particular needs of the immigrant population.