Regional Business Support in the Spotlight at EMB Conference

The East Midlands is one of the most diverse and entrepreneurial regions in England. It is home to some of the most advanced and sophisticated ‘knowledge’ driven business in the country; and, at the same time, benefits from a considerable rural landscape which itself generates significant entrepreneurial activity.

East Midlands Business Ltd. (EMB Ltd.) is a body charged with the challenging task of ensuring that all the region’s businesses have the opportunity to take advantage of support that will enable them to survive, develop and grow. Given the challenging economic climate, this role has never been more important. Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, will set out the steps that have been taken to support the region’s businesses through the recession and towards economic recovery. EMB Ltd. is acutely aware of the region’s diverse business base, including the significant numbers of ethnic minority entrepreneurs that operate in the East Midlands. Stephen will outline key initiatives to support these and other diverse groups in business. Importantly, EMB Ltd. is in the process of recruiting a number of ‘community-based’ business advisers whose key task will be to encourage and support ‘under-represented’ groups in the region. At the other end of the spectrum, EMB Ltd. has actively encouraged growing ethnic minority businesses to take advantage of supply chain opportunities with large organisations in the public and private sector.

Working in partnership is central to the operation of EMB Ltd. Together with the Economic and Social Research Council, EMB Ltd has supported CREME to deliver an innovative project to support the region’s new migrant entrepreneurs. For the last year, Alex Kiselinchev and Lovemore Muchenje of CREME have been working closely with EMB Ltd to encourage new migrants to develop their businesses. Alex and Lovemore share their experiences of working on this project, including:-

• The considerable interest in entrepreneurship as a career option amongst new migrants
• New migrant involvement in a diverse range of business activities
• Unacknowledged human capital within many businesses
• A lack of awareness of the existence and role of ‘mainstream’ business support agencies
• Active interest in pursuing appropriate support to develop and their businesses
• A willingness to engage with business support professionals

-Prof Monder Ram-