Page 152 - guidance-supporting-europe-s-aspiring-entrepreneurs-policy-and-practice-to-harness-future-potential

Guidance supporting Europe’s aspiring entrepreneurs
Policy and practice to harness future potential

5.6. Guidance for specific groups

Self-employment provides a route through which people identified as
marginalised or disadvantaged can actively engage with the labour market and/or
the economy. While guidance and support for groups such as women, young
people, immigrants and ethnic minorities, and the unemployed or low skilled
mirrors that delivered to aspiring and new entrepreneurs in general, efforts also
need to focus on raising awareness of available activities through outreach.
This section identifies the types of activity developed via programmes
typically oriented towards marginalised, disadvantaged or underrepresented
groups.

5.6.1. Migrant entrepreneurs
While migrant entrepreneurs are likely to face the same sorts of difficulty as any
person trying to set up their own business, the following specific barriers exist:
• restricted access to financial and institutional support services;
• language barriers;
• limited business, management and marketing skills;
• disproportionate concentration in low-skilled activities where the scope for
growth, diversification or entry into mainstream markets is limited.
Even though certain migrant communities are noted for their entrepreneurial
activities, limited business, management and marketing skills are identified as
barriers to establishing one’s own business. Findings from a report by Middlesex
University from 2000 also identified that migrants access general management
skills and business support less frequently and are more likely to rely on informal
37
sources of assistance (CEEDR, 2000) ( ). However, there is a danger that
informal sources of advice (family and friends) can be misinformed, hampering
individuals’ efforts to start their own businesses. Migrant entrepreneurs might
also be less likely to utilise wider marketing techniques, as they often form a
niche market within their community or locale.
Despite such problems and constraints, successful programmes exist that
deliver guidance and support to migrant communities.
Migrant populations might be more likely to rely on support from family and
friends rather than expert guidance and they are less likely to have access to the
kind of support provided by authorities and institutions. It is imperative that
targeted business support services come up with innovative ways of reaching
these clients.

37
( ) These are likely to be friends, family or other personal contacts.

146