Migrant entrepreneurs are behind one in seven of all UK companies, a study has found.
Nearly 500,000 people from 155 countries have settled and launched businesses around Britain, according to London-based think tank the Centre for Entrepreneurs (CfE) and business information specialist DueDil.
CfE and DueDil said the UK’s migrant entrepreneurs were from nearly every country, with significant numbers from Ireland, India, the US, Germany and China, as well as African countries.
Companies founded by migrants were responsible for 14% of all new jobs in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
Researchers said their work cast light on the positive impact migrants were having on the UK economy.
DueDil founder Damian Kimmelman, who is described by CfE as an American serial migrant entrepreneur, said: “Immigration is one of Britain’s most emotive topics for debate.
“Sadly, opinions are rarely informed by evidence.
“This game-changing research proves that migrant entrepreneurs are hyper-productive, net contributors to the UK economy.”
He added: “History tells us that the most productive states always encourage intellectual and technological ferment. That’s what we’re seeing in Britain right now and we must celebrate it.”
UK Government immigration policy is focused on limiting the number of people coming to the country, but many Scottish political leaders and business bosses are concerned that this is hampering economic growth north of the border.
Colin Borland, of the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, said: “We know that migrants account for a disproportionate amount of entrepreneurial activity, and this new research spells out the extent to which they are punching above their weight.”
The CfE/DueDil report comes just a fortnight after Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster and leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, called on politicians to “extinguish the discourse of fear” that undermined the contribution of foreign entrepreneurs and workers moving to the UK. He said migrant workers helped to make sure large cities around the UK were able to “carry on working”.
Yesterday, CfE director Matt Smith said: “The contribution of migrant entrepreneurs is, to be frank, breathtaking.
“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.”
CfE chairman Luke Johnson added: “The majority of the public appreciate the value of migrant entrepreneurs but our politicians and media send out negative signals that risk alienating this vital group of job creators.”
YouGov polling for the report revealed that 44% of the public believe migrant entrepreneurs make a positive contribution to the UK.