The Impact of COVID-19 on BAME Owned Businesses in the UK

About this project

Our research will investigate the specific challenges that BAME business owners faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, the strategies that they used to keep their businesses afloat, and how they engaged with financial and regional support.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, many businesses in the UK temporarily closed with the majority of businesses that operated during the lockdown doing so at a reduced capacity with lower turnover. This would have had significant implications for BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) owned businesses because they are traditionally concentrated in sectors that were particularly affected by the pandemic and lockdown such as retailing, restaurants, hospitality and personal services.

BAME individuals also had higher mortality rates compared to non-BAME individuals and BAME owned businesses usually hire a considerable amount of BAME employees and attract more BAME customers than non-BAME businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic implies that BAME owned businesses would have had to incur considerable costs to protect their businesses, staff and customers.

 

Associated researcher

Fang ZHAO

Visiting Professor

Professor Fang Zhao is a business strategist and advisor mainly in the areas of digital transformation, digital disruption, and environmental sustainability.

Fang's profile

Collaborators and funding

With support from Dr Jagannadha Pawan Tamvada (Southampton University).

Funding support from the British Academy.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021