Migrant Entrepreneurs’ ‘breathtaking’ economic contribution

Here’s something you will not hear much from Ukip leader Nigel Farage, or for that matter, most mainstream politicians:

Migrant entrepreneurs' "breathtaking" contribution to the UK economy has been revealed by new research, which found that they are twice as entrepreneurial as native Britons.

Foreign-born entrepreneurs are "hyper-productive" with a fantastic contribution to the UK economy according to a study by the Centre for Entrepreneurs think-tank and financial tech firm DueDil.

They have shown that there are are nearly 3.2 million companies active in Britain, with migrants as founders or co-founders of 464,527, equivalent to 14.5% of the total.

Matt Smith, director of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, said:

“The contribution of migrant entrepreneurs is, to be frank, breath-taking. "Presented with such irrefutable evidence, it is now the responsibility of politicians of all parties to celebrate migrant entrepreneurs’ contributions and restate their commitment to maintaining pro-entrepreneurship immigration policies”.

Just last week I attended an Anglo-German Conference on migration in Berlin. In sharp contrast to the UK the German Government were actively encouraging migrants to ‘come, work, pay taxes and make our country stronger’. One delegate stated that Germany clearly recognises that migrants bring dynamism, intellectual capital and an entrepreneurial spirit in which economically boost the economy’.

Important as the entrepreneurs are, we should also recognise the unsung migrant workers who keep our cities running such as those cleaning our hospitals, hotels and offices, often for minimum wage.

In a debate which is usually characterised by the demonization of migrants this report using ‘irrefutable evidence’ is invaluable. It seeks to tell our society another, more positive story about immigration and above all it pleads with our politicians and media-outlets to highlight what we gain from those who bring their skills here.

Simon Woolley