Absent or overlooked? Promoting diversity among entrepreneurs with public support needs

Beldina Owalla, Tim Vorley, Tom Coogan, Helen Lawton Smith and Katy Wing

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2021, vol. 13, issue 3, 231-261

Abstract: Despite the widely recognised importance of diversity for business performance, knowledge concerning the support needs of under-represented groups is still limited. We adopt an intersectional approach to analyse the challenges and support needs of ethnic minority entrepreneurs, and those with disabilities, to participate in entrepreneurial activity in the UK. Our qualitative data is based on focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that engagement in entrepreneurship is influenced not just by minority status, but by the specific relations to other socio-demographic categories within which that status is embedded. Intersectional counter-frames form part of the strategies utilised by individuals to gain access to otherwise limited resources. We develop a conceptual model for promoting greater equality, diversity and inclusion, within an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and recommend a more holistic approach to realising inclusive economic growth. This includes adopting a hybrid/blended approach that combines targeted programs with the development of mainstream support programs.

Keywords: equality; EDI; diversity and inclusion; intersectionality; counter-frames; policy initiatives; entrepreneurial ecosystem. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=116841 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijeven:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:231-261

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().