The Asian business sector and the dynamics of change: a story of growth, diversity and success in the UK

Purpose – The Asian business community has been noted for its contribution to the UK economy. This vibrant sector of the small to medium-sized enterprises population serves to illustrate diversity in terms of spanning sectors including manufacturing and services, entertainment and fashion, hotels and property, food and pharmaceuticals. This paper seeks to draw out trends within this increasingly important sector of the economy. Design/methodology/approach – The study reports on a research project which comprises the latest phase in a seven-year, longitudinal study of the richest 200 Asian business people in the UK. Findings – The analysis suggests that the Asian business community has delivered significant and sustained growth which is higher than average growth in the UK. Originality/value – For policy makers and the business support community, this paper offers a greater understanding of the dynamics behind the success stories and thus offers opportunities to tailor any engagement with this community appropriately. For academics it adds to the growing literature of minority ethnic businesses in the UK