The Social Innovation Partnership · 2022
This report explores how young people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority communities and low socio-economic backgrounds in Brixton are building creative enterprises outside of the traditional creative and digital industries. Through in-depth interviews with 13 'Disruptors', the research identifies four key characteristics — cross-cultural dexterity, cultural integrity, agile disruptive networks, and being limitless — that underpin their entrepreneurial success. The report finds that these young people are operating highly innovative ventures largely below the radar, often despite systemic barriers including institutional racism, lack of access to finance, and exclusion from mainstream creative sector networks. It makes recommendations for building disruptive hubs, improving access to funding, and facilitating more equitable relationships between Disruptors and established organisations in the creative and digital industries.