Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Event Report: New Migrants Focus Group in Northampton

Focus Group for Eastern European Migrants in Northampton
Last Thursday, April 23rd 2009, a focus group event, co-sponsored by CREME, New Communities in Social Enterprise (NCISE) and Business Link, was held at Chata Polish Restaurant in Northampton. The 14 invitees represented established Polish businesses, prospective Polish businesses, NCISE and other Eastern European community organisations.

This focus group was specifically aimed at Eastern European businesses and community organisations within Northamptonshire.

After brief introductions, where the sponsors of the event introduced themselves to the participants and provided an overview of their activities, we went through several questions with the attendees covering people’s backgrounds, their businesses and experiences of business support. There were several immediate key findings:-

  • A large majority of people are either planning on settling down in the UK or staying at least for a few more years
  • Business activities focused on food related businesses, websites, arts and crafts, construction and import/export
  • People started a business in order to gain more opportunities and to maximise their potential
  • Main barriers people face are language barriers and not knowing where to access information
  • Most participants have little help from family, business support organisation or religious organisations
  • Credit crisis doesn’t have a big impact because Polish people are used to tough conditions
  • People mostly use the internet to find business related information
  • Most people lack information on legal aspects of running a business and where they can find sources of finance

Most of the attendees didn’t know much about Polish social enterprises. The event concluded with a question and answer session where attendees could pose their questions to Business Link and NCISE. Several people showed interest in making appointments to meet with a Business Link advisor at a later date and with NCISE, and declared a big interest in being involved with CREME’s future activities.

- Alex Kiselinchev-

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Project News: Facilitating Entrepreneurship in New Migrant Communities

Prof Monder Ram in collaboration with East Midlands Business Ltd is overseeing this year long project commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Two dynamic researchers have gotten this exciting project off to a great start.
Alexander Kiselinchev has been engaging with new migrant business owners to raise awareness of business support, and develop detailed understanding of their particular needs through a series of interviews and focus groups.
Lovemore Muchenje is working with intermediary networks that support new migrant communities in order to explore opportunities for collaborative working.
The study is also aiming to increase knowledge transfer between CREME and EMB Ltd.

The project runs until October 2009 and updates will be posted here.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Project News: Facilitating Supplier Diversity

Facilitating Supplier Diversity: A Collaborative Approach to Engaging Underrepresented Suppliers and Large Firms

This year long project, commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council, is nearing completion. Working together on this are Prof Monder Ram, Dr Nick Theodorakopoulos and Dr Olga Tregaskis in collaboration with Supplier Diversity Europe (SDE).

The focus of this project is trifold:

Knowledge transfer. CREME and SDE are sharing material that will support the implementation of supplier diversity in SDE members’ companies. The intention is to share the accumulated and synergistic expertise at special events for SDE members. Importantly, these experiences will help to shape broader policy debates in the UK and other European countries.

People transfer. CREME recruited two specialists who are ‘placed’ with SDE. One of these ‘placement fellows’ works with an SDE member to create a ‘Hub’, which is drawing together suppliers at different points in the supply chain. The other expert assists in the production of a ‘Handbook’ that will have resonance in a number of European countries.

Developing the business case for Supplier Diversity. CREME’s action research methodology will be used to develop an informed approach to supplier diversity in practice. This will be distinctly European in orientation.

A brief summary of this project's outcomes will be added here in July.