Ethnic minority businesses and targeted assistance programs in the US and the UK : A comparison and implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the current status and the development of ethnic minority businesses in the USA and in the UK. Comparing the two countries’ past, current, and likely future situations and recognizing that each situation offers some lessons to the other, implications for minority business owners and for those who assist or study such businesses in each country are presented. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents descriptive research and analysis, developed from a thorough study of governmental and non-governmental minority business assistance programs, and of corporate procurement programs, utilizing both primary and secondary sources; governmental, non-governmental organization and corporate publications; and the existing academic and practitioner literature. Findings – Practitioners, consultants, and researchers in both the USA and the UK face considerable regulatory, demographic and other challenges and opportunities over the coming years with regard to the status and progress of minority-owned businesses and the appropriate nature of public and private policies and programs to foster and assist such businesses. Each country can benefit from the other's experience, as discussed and explained in this paper. Practical implications – Specific recommendations are provided for those involved with targeted assistance programs in each country – for practitioners, governmental, and non-governmental program administrators, consultants to such businesses, and those who conduct research with this focus. Originality/value – A search of the existing literature indicates that research with this focus has not been previously published.