This article reports findings from a scoping study, commissioned by the Scottish Executive, on ethnic minority businesses (EMBs) and their distinctive importance in Scotland. The study combines quantitative and qualitative analysis and builds upon previous research undertaken in the UK and Scotland to investigate the changing importance of known issues with EMBs for Scotland. The role and importance of social capital for EMBs in Scotland has not been explored in previous research, although because of strong informal networks, it has been feasible to assume that its role is beneficial. In this article, we examine the role of social capital and demonstrate that its role is more complex and diverse.
Ajzen, I. (1991) ` The Theory of Planned Behaviour ', Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes50: 179—211 .
2.
Anderson, A.R. (1997) `Entrepreneurial Marketing Patterns in a Rural Environment', paper presented at the Special Interest Group Symposium on the Marketing and Entrepreneurship Interface, Dublin, January.
3.
Anderson, A.R. and Jack, S.H. (2002) ` The Articulation of Social Capital in Entrepreneurial Networks: A Glue or a Lubricant ', Entrepreneurship and Regional Development14(2): 193—210 .
4.
Baines, S. , Wheelock, J. and Abrams, A. (1997) `Micro-Business Owners in Social Context: Household, Family and Growth or Non-Growth', in D. Deakins , C. Jennings and C. Mason (eds) Small Firms: Entrepreneurship in the Nineties, pp. 47—60. London: Paul Chapman .
5.
Bank of England (1999) The Financing of Ethnic Minority Firms in the UK. London: Bank of England .
6.
Bent, R. , Seaman, C. and Wallace, A. (1999) Convenience Stores and the Ethnic Retailer: Independents under Pressure and Threat. Edinburgh: Queen Margaret University College .
7.
Cabinet Office (2002) `Social Capital: A Discussion Paper, Performance and Innovation Unit', Cabinet Office, London .
8.
Chan, S. (1997) ` Migration, Cultural Identity and Assimilation Effects on Entrepreneurship for the Overseas Chinese in Britain ', Asia Pacific Business Review3(2): 211—22 .
9.
Davidsson, P. and Honig, B. (2003) ` The Role of Social and Human Capital Among Nascent Entrepreneurs ', Journal of Business Venturing18(3): 301—31 .
10.
Deakins, D. , Galloway, L. and Mochrie, R. (2004) ` Rural Business Use of ICT: A Study of the Relative Impact of Collective Activity in Rural Scotland ', Journal of Strategic Change13: 139-50 .
11.
Deakins, D. , Majmudar, M. and Paddison, A. (1995) `Ethnic Minority Enterprise in the West of Scotland ', PERC Research Report. Paisley: University of Paisley .
12.
Deakins, D. , Ram, M. and Smallbone, D. (2003) ` Addressing the Business Support Needs of Ethnic Minority Firms in the UK ', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy21(6): 791—942 .
13.
Ekos (2004) `Tradeston Development and Regeneration: Business Baseline Analysis', Unpublished Report. Glasgow: Glasgow City Council .
14.
Emerson, R. (1972) `Exchange Theory', in J. Berger , M. Zelditch and B. Anderson (eds) Sociological Theories in Progress, pp. 21—57. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin .
15.
Fife Council Development Services (2004) `Ethnic Minority Businesses in Fife', Survey. Fife : Fife Council .
16.
Flap, H. , Kumcu, A. and Bulder, B. (2000) `The Social Capital of Immigrant Entrepreneurs and their Business Success', in J. Rath (ed.) Immigrant Businesses: The Economic, Political and Social Environment . London: Macmillan .
17.
Flap, H. , Kumcu, A. and Bulder, B. (2002) `Social Capital and Business Success', in J. Rath (ed.) Immigrant Businesses: The Economic, Political and Social Environment. London : Macmillan Press.
18.
Gem Scotland (2002) `Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report for Scotland '. Glasgow : Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde .
19.
Gem Uk ( 2003) `Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report for the UK'. London: Business School , University of London .
20.
Granovetter, M. (1973) ` The Strength of Weak Ties ', American Journal of Sociology78: 1360—80 .
21.
Jack, S. (2005) ` The Role, Use and Activation of Strong and Weak Network Ties: A Qualitative Analysis ', Journal of Management Studies42(6): 1233—60 .
22.
Kloosterman, R. , Van der Leun, J. and Rath, J. (1999) ` Mixed Embeddedness: (In)formal Economic Activities and Immigrant Businesses in the Netherlands ', International Journal of Urban and Regional Research23(2): 252—66 .
23.
Lin, N. , Ensel, W. and Vaughan, J. (1981) ` Social Resources and Strength of Ties: Structural Factors in Occupational Status Attainment ', American Sociological Review46(4): 393—405 .
24.
McKain, R. (2003) ` Social Constructions of Environmental Quality and Opportunities for Enterprise in Rural Scotland' , PhD thesis, Business and Management, University of Highlands and Islands , Perth College.
25.
McPherson, M. (2004) `First and Second-generation UK South Asians: A Comparison of Business Practices', paper presented to the 27th National Small Firms Policy and Research Conference, Newcastle, November.
26.
Metcalf, H. , Modood, T. and Virdee, S. (1996) Asian Self-Employment: The Interaction of Culture and Economics in England. London: Policy Studies Institute .
27.
Mitchell, B. and Co, M.J. (2005) `Level of Social Capital Among Ethnic Entrepreneurs: Key or Curse', paper presented to the 28th ISBE National Conference, Blackpool, November.
28.
Mulholland, K. (1997) ` The Family Enterprise and Business Strategies ', Work, Employment and Society11(4): 685—711 .
29.
Netto, G. , Arshad, R. , De Lima, P. , Diniz, F.A. , MacEwen, M. , Patel, V. and Syed, R. (2001) Audit of Research on Minority Ethnic Issues in Scotland from a `Race' Perspective. Edinburgh: Central Research Unit, Scottish Executive .
30.
Ons (2003) 2001 Census, Culture and Ethnicity. London: ONS , URL (consulted November 2005): http://www.statistics.gov.uk
31.
Portes,A. (1998) ` Social Capital ', Annual Review of Sociology23: 1—24 .
32.
Putnam, R.D. , Leonardi, R. and Nanetti, R.Y. (1993) Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press .
33.
Ram, M. and Jones, T. (1998) Ethnic Minorities in Business . Milton Keynes : Small Business Research Trust.
34.
Ram, M. , Smallbone, D. and Deakins, D. (2002) Ethnic Minority Businesses in the UK: Access to Finance and Business Support. London: British Bankers' Association .
35.
Ram, M. , Smallbone, D. , Deakins, D. and Jones, T. (2003) ` Finance and the Development of Ethnic Minority Businesses ', Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies29(4): 663—81 .
36.
SBS ( 2004) A Government Action Plan for Small Business: The Evidence Base. London: SBS, DTI.
37.
Scottish Executive (2004) Analysis of Ethnicity in the 2001 Census: Summary Report. Edinburgh: Scottish Executive .
38.
Shapero, A. and Sokol, L. (1982) `The Social Dimensions of Entrepreneurship', in C. A. Kent , D. L. Sexton and K. H. Vesper (eds) Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship, pp. 72—90. New Jersey: Prentice Hall .
39.
Sirmon, D.G. and Hitt, M.A. (2003) ` Managing Resources: Linking Unique Resources, Management and Wealth Creation in Family Firms ', Entrepreneurship, Theory and Practice27(4): 339—58 .
40.
Smallbone D. , Bertotti M. and Ekanem I. (2005) ` Diversification in Ethnic Minority Business: The Case of Asians in London's Creative Industries ', Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development12(1): 41—56 .
41.
Song, M. (1997) ` Children's Labour in Ethnic Family Business: The Case of Chinese Take-Away Business in Britain ', Ethnic and Racial Studies20(1): 690—716 .
42.
Vaessen, P. and Keeble, D. (1995) ` Growth-oriented SMEs in Unfavourable Regional Environments' , Regional Studies29(4): 489—505 .
43.
Ward, R. and Jenkins, R. (eds) (1984) Ethnic Communities in Business. Cambridge and London: Cambridge University Press .
44.
Werbner (1990) ` Renewing and Industrial Past: British Pakistani Entrepreneurship in Manchester ', Migration8(1): 17—41 .
45.
Wilson, L. , Whittam, G. and Deakins, D. (2004) ` Women'sEnterprise : A Critical Examination of National Policies to Support Women's Enterprise', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy20(5): 799—815 .
