The Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship at 20: Celebrating Impact and Charting the Future

?Introduction

Over the past 20 years, I have been privileged to guide the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) from its beginnings as a 'start-up' to its current status as a well-respected international voice on diversity and entrepreneurship. The journey has had its fair share of challenges, but the rewards have been immense. In reflecting through this blog, I attribute our success to the dedication, resilience in the face of obstacles, and efforts of my colleagues and partners. As we look ahead, the future bodes well for us, rich in even more opportunities for meaningful impact and growth.

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Two Decades of Research and Engagement

When CREME was established in 2004, research into ethnic minority entrepreneurship largely remained confined to academic circles. But CREME managed to make those insights accessible beyond academia. In a brief period, we prompted a shift, transforming a niche academic pursuit into a widely discussed topic of public discussion. Today, CREME addresses the systemic barriers faced by ethnic minority entrepreneurs, and our influence is felt beyond academia, shaping policies and practices at both local and national levels. While we respect and contribute to the academic discourse, our mission extends to making tangible changes in the world beyond.

The following are some examples of our key programmes that embody our dedication to impact-oriented research.

Access to Finance:? Our landmark research in the 2000s on ethnic minority businesses and banks catalysed improvements in relationships. We led initiatives fostering mutual understanding between minority firms and financial institutions.

Access to Markets: Through research funding and pioneering corporate collaborations, we have promoted inclusive procurement. This has brought practical benefits for minority suppliers, including commercial contracts.

Inclusive Business Support: Our long-term partnership with Citizens UK has developed innovative grassroots assistance for overlooked minority firms. Outcomes include awareness-raising, performance improvements and capability building.?

Cross-Sector Partnerships: Our approach to supporting minority firms involves engagement and co-creation with diverse partners. We build collaborations between marginalised communities, enterprises, policymakers and support providers. This facilitates the translation of research insights into practical initiatives and policy impacts.

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?Ambitious Goals for the Future

As we embark on our third decade, CREME has set ambitious goals for maximising our impact.

A top priority is implementing the recommendations from our ground-breaking 2022 report, ‘Time to Change’ , which sets out a roadmap for transforming support for ethnic minority businesses. We aim to catalyse change across sectors by establishing working groups, co-designing interventions, and mobilising partners behind the report’s agenda. Our goal is cross-sector accountability for progress.

We will also implement a student engagement plan to strengthen synergies between our research and Aston’s world-class teaching. Activities will provide entrepreneurial experiences for students via mentorship, new courses, pedagogical materials and collaborations with the Aston Business Clinic. This will nurture entrepreneurial talent while enhancing the university’s reputation.

Supporting early career researchers is another key priority. We’re nurturing the next generation of engaged scholars by empowering our early career researchers to lead key initiatives with a range of key practitioners. ?In addition, we are developing a distinctive PhD programme centred on ‘engaged scholarship’. By providing specialist training and creating projects with external partners, we will equip doctoral researchers with skills for impact-oriented research. This will ultimately build CREME’s capacity for positive social change.

Reflecting on the past 20 years, CREME has made a concrete impact in the field of ethnic minority entrepreneurship. As we set our sights on the future, our commitment to empowering ethnic minority entrepreneurs remains steadfast. Our vision for the future is deeply intertwined with our mission — 'making diversity everyone's business’ — as we strive to keep pushing boundaries.

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Monder Ram

Director, Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship

Aston University