Second and third generation South Asian service sector entrepreneurship in Birmingham, United Kingdom

Dewitt, Sunita (2011). Second and third generation South Asian service sector entrepreneurship in Birmingham, United Kingdom. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis explores second and third generation South Asian entrepreneurship in Britain. To date the majority of studies have focused on understanding entrepreneurship by first generation South Asian immigrants who established businesses in traditional sectors of the economy, frequently as a result of „push‟ and „pull‟ factors. This thesis extends the work on South Asian entrepreneurship to second and third generation South Asian entrepreneurs. These generations are detached from immigrant status and the majority have been assimilated into British culture and economy, they are the British/Asians. This thesis explores the driving forces and strategies deployed by these succeeding generation of South Asians in setting up businesses in Birmingham‟s service sector economy. A framework is developed to understand South Asian entrepreneurship that consists of four elements: individual‟s driving forces, financial input, support networks and market opportunities. These elements consist of factors such as background which involves personal attributes including encouragement from parents to obtain educational credentials; inspiration from entrepreneurial family networks; and the desire to achieve status and flexibility; support networks explores the role of co-ethnic, community-based and business associations. And finally, market opportunities include the deployment of specific strategies by these entrepreneurs in locating markets for their products and services. A significant component of this is the way these generations utilise their ethnicity and duality not only to target clients and widen markets but also innovate their goods and services through fusing together aspects of Asianess and Britishness to create „hybrid products‟ which are intended to penetrate new markets.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):