The small business owners who call the UK home

For those of us who take a safe home and free speech as basic human rights, put yourself in Ali Alzein’s shoes for a moment.

Ali arrived in the UK from Damascus, Syria, escaping the brutal crackdown by the Syrian regime on peaceful protesters. The regime's violent response to those advocating for freedom and reform made it unsafe for him to stay in his home. He had no choice but to leave and sought safety and a chance to rebuild his life.

“I turned to the UK, hoping to find refuge and an opportunity to start anew,” he says. Ali was awarded asylum in the UK in 2014.

“To me, the UK symbolised hope, safety and a commitment to democratic values and human rights. It represented a place where I could escape the violence and repression of my homeland and where I could envision a future free from fear.

“I saw the UK as a land of opportunity, where I could rebuild my life and contribute positively to society."

And Ali did just that. In late 2019, he founded Bees & Refugees to provide therapeutic relief to fellow refugees who have suffered from the trauma of war and struggled to settle into their new homes. Initially working with women and children, Bees & Refugees has since expanded to include vulnerable children and communities in Hammersmith, Waterloo and Sevenoaks, where it has an exciting new farm.

The story of the immigrant entrepreneur is a familiar one.

The land of opportunity

The UK has symbolised hope to those who may have been forced to start anew in a new land. For centuries, people have been coming to the UK in pursuit of a better life, in search of opportunity or simply seeking refuge from war, disasters and persecution.

For the better part, the UK has provided them with the opportunity to feel safe, valued and thrive; many even start businesses.

Although 14.5% of the UK's population are immigrants, 39% of the country's top 100 fastest-growing companies have a foreign-born founder or co-founder, states a study by The Entrepreneurs Network (TEN).

However, this shows a significant drop compared to a similar study conducted in 2019. Back then, 49% of the UK's top 100 fastest-growing firms had a foreign-born founder.

TEN highlighted that some of the key reasons for this were Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the silver lining TEN points out:

"...the report clearly shows the benefits which immigration can have for the UK economy, and that immigrants play a hugely disproportionate role when it comes to founding and running some of the most dynamic, innovative, and wealth-creating companies in the country."

One of the businesses contributing to the UK economy and has been for years is Delhicious. Zara Saleem started the beauty business with her husband Zak with not much support. It’s a real grassroots story of starting from home with one beauty product and growing it to become an actual brand.

Dual identity

Although Zara was born in Wembley, London, she did live in Karachi for a short while until the family decided to move back for a better life.

“As I was born here, I think the UK has always just been home to me. I’ve lived and grown up here so have a strong sense of British identity and will always feel tied to the UK,” she says.

Although British, it has not always been smooth sailing. Zara recounts: “I lived in a predominantly white area as a child and was the only brown girl in class. This led to lots of comments about ‘curry sandwiches’ at lunch and people acting like I was just generally an ‘other’. It led to me really rejecting my South Asian identity and trying to be more like those around me until I moved to a heavily Asian area and realised how my Asian identity was something to celebrate and not hide.”

One of the ways Zara has done this is through Delhicious, which proudly highlights its South Asian identity and roots.

“My main hope was to reclaim South Asian heritage and remedies and to share that with the world in a way that made people really see Indian beauty as a real competitor in the market.

“We saw the rise of K Beauty and I firmly believe that Indian beauty is about to have its moment. However that being said, I was a very sleep-deprived mother of two babies when I started so my plans for world domination didn’t really exist. I was just going through the motions but I believed in the brand,” she confesses.

A voice for the voiceless

For Stefania Biagini, the UK was where she could build her career.

She explains: “Following the 2010 economic crisis, I was looking for work as a graphic designer. After experiences in Barcelona and San Francisco, I went back to Italy but it wasn't possible to build the career I wanted, so I moved to London in snowy January in 2012.

“I saw London as a mecca of opportunities with open-minded people and so much to learn; somewhere that someone like me could grow my profession.”

Stefania founded SO IMMIGRANT in 2017 as a side project, supported by her other design work. SO IMMIGRANT is a unisex collection that combines style and activism, is ethically produced and screen printed in the UK on 100% certified organic cotton. Each year, it also donates 10% of its sales to Refugee Action.

She explains how the business came about: “I didn't have an exact plan but with the new freedom of being my own boss, I revisited my love of illustration, as well as screen printing at Print Club in East London. When there was a big anti-Trump protest in 2017, I decided to design and print an immigrant tee for myself to go to the demonstration and that was the first immigrant tee and the beginning of SO IMMIGRANT.

“That first t-shirt got a lot of attention and I realised there might be a market amongst like-minded people. I decided to make them available to everyone.

“I would say my graphic design profession is solid now after years of working with many amazing studios and clients. But I also have this as my personal creative output on the side. It wasn't what I planned but I'm proud of what I have and how it's going.”

Starting from scratch

Immigrant or not, starting a business can be daunting. And to-be entrepreneurs often face similar challenges, whether it is access to advice and funding, a crowded or niche market or not knowing where to begin.

However, Ali highlights additional obstacles he faced, which may sound familiar to other fellow immigrant business owners. He explains:

“Starting a business in a new country was fraught with challenges. I encountered difficulties navigating the legal and bureaucratic systems, compounded by language barriers and a lack of familiarity with the local business environment.

“Securing funding was particularly challenging as financial institutions were often reluctant to invest in ventures led by refugees. Despite these hurdles, the support from the community and my determination helped me overcome these obstacles.”

Ali particularly highlights the support he got from the community and individuals who had experienced similar challenges in the early days and still do. Friends and fellow refugees provided crucial assistance, helping him find his footing and navigating the complexities of life in a new country.

“While I did not receive formal government housing support, the solidarity and practical help from the community were invaluable in helping me rebuild my life,” he adds.

Riots, not protests

The recent riots and violence have sent a shiver through the country, even if you are a second-generation immigrant born in the UK.

“It was incredibly disappointing but also not surprising,” says Zara. “There has been years and years of misinformation and scapegoating in the media which has led to this.”

She makes it clear that the recent events are not protests but “violent and senseless riots”. “Attacking innocent people is not a protest. Immigration is not the problem. There is a deep colonial history behind it, as well as a lack of education, which has led to this,” she continues.

Although she has lived here most of her life and was born here, these riots have made her feel unsettled. Zara expresses a sad sentiment: “I live in a very Asian area in London. However, as a visibly brown, Muslim woman, who wears the hijab, I felt very unsafe. It also made my husband and I really think about whether this is the country we want to raise our children.

"It’s scary to think that we don’t feel safe in the place we think is home. Perhaps it’s best we find somewhere we will be accepted and not have to worry about looking ‘too brown’ or ‘too Muslim’ without fearing for our safety.”

As for Ali, the riots reopened old wounds. He says:

“The recent riots have heightened my sense of vulnerability. The violent and racist nature of these attacks against immigrants and refugees reignites fears and reminds me of the ongoing challenges we face. Living with the threat of violence and discrimination underscores the urgent need for continued efforts towards safety, inclusion and support for all members of society.

“As someone who has sought safety and a new beginning in the UK, it is disheartening to witness such aggression. These protests not only affect individuals like me but also undermine the values of compassion and tolerance that are integral to the British identity.”

Beacon of hope

However, in the darkest of times, there is hope. For all the far-right hatred and misinformation, there are double the numbers that come out to stand against them. When it comes to Ali’s business, Bees & Refugees, the community largely embraces its mission and has contributed immensely to its success.

“The support from volunteers, customers and community members has been encouraging. Although there have been occasional instances of resistance, this reflects the broader issues of prejudice and fear that still exist,” he says.

While Zara points out… with a pinch of salt: “Companies and brands have realised the importance of diversity and are now accepting and embracing black and brown businesses and brands. The question remains, if the community has really truly accepted us, or whether it’s still a checklist activity?”

For serial entrepreneur, Monsurah Alli-Oluwafuyi, who only recently moved to the UK, the country still represents hope. Although she grew up in Nigeria but studied in the UK, not much has changed.

Monsurah reflects: “I live in Bristol, and I dare say Bristol is one of the most accommodating and truly amazing cities to live in the UK. It’s only been a few weeks here and I have received the kindest gestures in various forms from different people and organisations. It is a warm city to live in.”

Monsurah is hoping to expand her business, Tara Fun Stories, which she started in 2020 back home. As a mother to a young, brown-skinned five-year-old daughter with a keen interest in books and other educational content, Monsurah found it tough to get her hands on high-quality educational and/or entertaining resources that truly represented children of African descent, so she decided to launch Tara Fun Stories.

“With the recent move to the UK, it has become even more important to expand the scope of the Tara Fun Stories brand to serve a huge demographic of young children of colour across the country and the continent at large,” she explains.

“The vision for Tara Fun Stories is to be a leading brand that provides diverse and truly representative entertainment content for children of colour across the world.”

How can you help and resources

• TERN is a nonprofit that supports refugees to start their own businesses

• In response to the recent attacks, Bees & Refugees launched a campaign to support Sham Supermarket in Belfast, which was burnt down and whose owner was brutally attacked by a group of six people

• Support available for businesses affected by the UK riots

• The Migration Museum explores how the movement of people to and from Britain across the ages has shaped who we are – as individuals, as communities and as a nation  

• NEW: Job Creators 2024 report by The Entrepreneurs Network (TEN)

Want to be part of the Enterprise Nation community? Sign up for free or upgrade to adviser membership.