Survey of BME led businesses in the United Kingdom
Survey purpose
This short survey forms part of a wider employment related project which BTEG is involved with (see www.bteg.co.uk for further details).
The continuing economic uncertainty and job losses across all sectors mean that unemployment rates are rising; and they are rising faster for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people. The most recent figures (November 2011) show a rise in the number of BME Job Seekers Allowance claimants in London on the previous period (i.e. representing 50% of all claimants in London).
BTEG was successful in obtaining a two year grant from the Trust for London to undertake work around the impact and implications of the economic downturn on employment and business prospects of BME groups in London. More widely, BTEG is seeking to improve employment opportunities for disadvantaged people through the raising of awareness of practices that will inform policy developments with respect to unemployment and economic exclusions.
This short survey is an attempt to gauge the 'temperature' of any difficulties that prospective/actual BME entrepreneurs may be/or have faced when applying for business loans from banks. Though an aspect of our work is focused on London, we are very keen to hear from BME businesses across the regions of the UK. The result of the survey will be published in our March/April Briefing (see www.bteg.co.uk).
The writing up of your responses will be anonymous with no indication or marking which will identify individual respondents(unless otherwise agreed with the individuals concerned).