Survey Questionnaire

On the 31st August 2006, Black Enterprise and researchers from the Business School at Loughborough University will be publishing their findings on a three year research project looking at African Caribbean business in the United Kingdom. This project has been funded by the European Social Fund.

For too long there has been a situation where the term ‘Black and Minority Ethnic’ has been used, and this has been an umbrella for every minority group from all sections of the community, and as such has many hidden facts subsumed into the data. We have sought to look specifically at one sector, to see just how well, or badly they are doing, and the research has thrown up a lot of interesting facts that can be positively used.

There are many misconceptions about African Caribbean business people. We have had it said that:

“They have no business acumen!”
“They have no business track record!”
“They are not serious and only employ family and friends!”


We know that there are around 30,000 African Caribbean businesses in the United Kingdom. We know that in London alone there are some 15,000 generating business turnover in the region of £10 billion per annum, and that there are a further 1,200 businesses in Birmingham. However, gathering data is always hard when a research team consists of just four people, and no matter how we apply ourselves, we will always be open to the suggestion that we have ‘only shown a snapshot’ and not the complete picture.

To that end, we have decided on a radical policy. Through the auspices of Black Enterprise we have decided to carry out our research in a novel way. What we are seeking to do is to suggest that African Caribbean business owners might like to fill out our questionnaire. Why should you do that for a University? The answer is also quite unique. The four researchers are very near to retirement. This will be their last research project. So, they can report the results openly and honestly, as there will be no threat to their careers. Also they will not be looking to further their careers at the cost of the African Caribbean business community. In the past others may have thought more of their own position, as they did their research, rather than the people that they were researching about. We will not do that.

Your efforts will be published and the truth will be there for all to see. The end of misconceptions about how African Caribbean’s conduct business. The truth as to how the funders (banks and others) have treated the community. An end to the preconception that African Caribbean’s have no business track record. This research will also inform the services offered by Black Enterprise (www.blackenterprise.co.uk).

E-mail Elaine Harris on E.R.Harris@lboro.ac.uk and she will send you either a paper copy or an electronic copy. We will promise to treat all you give us confidentially, but at the same time, we would hope that the final 500 page report will give the facts as to how well the African Caribbean business community are doing, despite some of the adverse treatment they have received from many and various sources.