Super-diverse Britain and new migrant enterprises

Diversity has been framed either as positive for economic dynamism and prosperity in British urban spaces, contributing to greater competitiveness, attractiveness of cosmopolitan lifestyle as well as the growth of a variety of migrant enterprises, or as having a negative impact on average wages, job availability and welfare provision. Our findings on entrepreneurs from both ‘new’ and ‘old’ migrant groups help bring nuances to the positive and negative aspects of this diversity dividend. This Working Paper argues that the diversification of origins of new migrant firms does not translate into a better position in Britain. New migrant groups in business share many similarities with their predecessors, including: skewed sectoral distribution, entrepreneurial motivations, limited access to mainstream finance, and a lack of recognition of their role in the economy. We indicate that new migrant entrepreneurs do make a substantial contribution in both social and economic realms, despite operating in a hostile and competitive environment and lacking adequate financial, cultural and social capitals. They manage to subsist, creating employment and services to the local community.