Abstract
The application of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in ethnic minorities-owned small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ESMEs) has received significantly less scholarly focus, making ESME CSR an emerging academic field. This study aims to explore the factors influencing ethnic minorities owned SMEs involve in CSR activities and to identify the factors that hinder SMEs CSR practices. This qualitative research study is based on the data collected by semi-structured interviews from SMEs, owned by British-Bangladeshi individuals in the UK, across three sectors: restaurant and food takeaways, groceries, and travel agents. Interview data has been analysed, and the findings of the research have been drawn up using the thematic analysis method. The main influencing factors towards SMEs' CSR practices have been categorised into two broad categories: influence of owners' personalities; and religious and cultural influences. The current research has revealed several factors that hinder ESME's intentions to engage in CSR namely SMEs' misconceptions of perceived efforts and perceived CSR outcomes, lack of awareness and confusion about the business's social role, failure to recognise and capitalise on the strategic advantages of their immense positive contributions, lack of resources, lack of institutional support, limited support or motivation from the government, lack of media support and coverage, and less tendency to take professional advice. The findings of the study contribute to the limited CSR literature theoretically and empirically with the factors influencing and hindering CSR practices in ESMEs in the UK. The results will be useful for various stakeholders including policymakers, government bodies, and other regulators to devise suitable policy and provides the necessary support for enhancing CSR practices in SMEs.