This research project investigated the challenges faced by low-income households in Cornwall when trying to engage in entrepreneurship.

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and working with Coastline Housing, we specifically considered barriers to business ownership, self-employment, and community-led initiatives.

Focus groups and interviews were used to capture insights from social housing customers, including residents of Coastline’s temporary housing service, to understand these challenges. A systematic scoping review of previous academic studies, as well as a survey of other literature, added broader context to our findings.

We identified barriers related to access to financial, human, social and institutional capital, including limited personal savings, high start-up costs, restricted access to loans, limited business knowledge and skills, low confidence, narrow social networks, and overly complex administrative processes.

Cornwall’s geographical context – its remoteness, limited transport links, and informal economy – compounded these difficulties.

This initiative aimed to foster an entrepreneurial culture in Cornwall, enhancing opportunities for individuals and strengthening community resilience. By identifying systemic and contextual challenges to business growth, it sought to empower aspiring entrepreneurs and contribute to the local economy.