This snapshot taken on 26/07/2008, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
The Rt. Hon. Patricia HewittAsian Trader Awards Event |
 |
|
| (Click picture for biography) | |
Thank you for that kind introduction. SAL MUBARAK! My congratulations to the Asian Trader for having brought together so many leading figures from the food and drink industry here tonight. This is, dare I say it, an event that only the Asian Trader could have organised. With a circulation of 51,000 copies – published in English, Gujarati and Urdu – you provide a vital link between manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Transgressing industrial, cultural and religious lines. And I'm really delighted to be here – to celebrate success in the Asian business community. I know from the last time I was here, as Small Firms Minister, we can expect to hear about some extraordinary success stories here tonight. In so many ways, the Asian community lights a beacon for the rest of our economy. Your entrepreneurial spirit, the way you grasp global markets, your application of innovation and creativity. Qualities in abundance here tonight. Tonight I want to talk about
Equality and Economic Success I find as a politician I still have to make the argument time and time again – too often, to be honest - that economic success and equality go hand in hand It's hardly rocket science. Some people still think it doesn't matter women have a pay gap; people are considered unemployable after their 50th birthday (and I declare an interest here!); that some black graduates are working as mini-cab drivers because there's no other work available. It's ridiculous. Of course it matters. Not just because we want a fair society. But because a successful economy needs to employ all available talents and skills. A Managing Director would hardly leave his plant and machinery gathering dust unused; leave his stock ignored in a store-room; or let one of his brightest employees, eager to work, stay at home while they stay on the pay-roll! It doesn't make economic sense. Not at business level. And not to us in Government. We're not going to let our economy and our society lose out to discrimination.
In many ways though, ethnic minority businesses – in particular the Asian population, have achieved the most extraordinary success we see today in spite of Governments, not because of Government. Ethnic minorities represent 5% of the population. Yet they account for 9% of business start-ups - the vast majority of these Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian and Chinese. People from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities are far more likely to be self-employed than the average. The South Asian business population turns over between 5 and 8 billion pounds a year. This is some of our most valuable business. Innovative. Enterprising. Making the most of global markets. Asian businesses have the advantage of understanding overseas markets – so crucial in today's global economy – with knowledge of culture, language, aspirations – building first class trading relationships. Far from Asian businesses being the "cornershop" of our economy - they are the cornerstone. Retail And many of these businesses are involved in the retail supply chain. The retail sector employs around 3 million people and makes up over 5% of GDP. Above and beyond their economic value, retailers also provide a huge contribution to our society and community. And Asian retailers must be highlighted here. Asian retailers make up 70% of all independent retailers – within the M25, the figure is 95%. In the 70s, I can remember shops used to be closed for lunch – closed on Sundays. Not meeting the needs of their customers at all. It was the Asian business community who turned this around. In many ways, you are architects of the 24/7 consumer revolution we've gone through in recent years – allowing customers to buy what they want when they want. Many Asian businesses act as a meeting point for the local community. A chance to catch up on the local gossip – to talk about what's in the news. Vital for their customers. Vital for their communities. And very important in terms of this Government's plans for building stronger communities, and neighbourhood renewal. I know that in the past the retail sector has not received the level of support it's deserved from Government. It's been regarded as something of a Cinderella. We're working hard to turn this around – and strengthen our links. The Asian Trader has helped with this. They have played an important role in my Department's policy making on retailing. And contributed to seminars for PAT 13. But we are also going much wider than this. A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to the BRC's Annual Dinner, and announced there
And I can also tell you we are looking very carefully, in the context of the PBR, at whether the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme should be extended to cover retail businesses. This is a Government concerned with listening and responding better to you. I know retail crime is a huge issue for you, as it is to many of my constituents – a point raised in PMQs last week. As the Prime Minister made clear, the police are tackling retail crime. And we're doing more. We've backed the creation of retail crime partnerships - and given £15 million for small retailers to improve security. 3,000 businesses benefited in the first year. 4,500 are set to benefit in the second. In Birmingham City Centre, levels of reported retail crime have fallen by more than 40% since the establishment of their retail crime partnership in 1999. This is a really important issue. Particularly, when it is so often the case, that much of this crime is race related. Celebrating excellence So there are many ways we're working together. To support your vital sector – your vital contribution to our economy. And I'm delighted to be here to present these awards to the best of you. I think this is really important. I don't think we're good enough at celebrating excellence in this country. And we should do – particularly in these difficult global trading conditions. I think it is bizarre that if someone picks up a £1 scratch card and wins millions, they will get public adoration, and yet if someone starts a business from scratch and creates new wealth and jobs for our country, they won't get so much as a mention. So I want to do my bit to turn that around. These awards are the premier awards for the industry. Now running for 15 years – with £35,000 in prize money – these really are the best. I'm really pleased you have an award for Asian Businesswoman of the year as well – so often it is the woman who serves you when you go into a shop, and who welcomes you warmly and with sincerity. But the contribution of the South Asian community is not limited to wealth creation. There has been and continues to be a much wider to contribution to the political, academic, sporting and cultural life of this country. And this is reflected in the recipients of tonight's awards. And so, on to the awards… |
|
|
|
|
Other speeches by The Rt. Hon. Patricia Hewitt
(the following are available from the archive) |
|
