'Thank you for your business' The Jewish Contribution to the British Economy

by Taylor, Derek J.; Osborne, Rt George; Godley, Professor

• ISBN13: 9780853039167
• ISBN10: 085303916X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-04-19
• Publisher: Vallentine Mitchell

Summary

Over the centuries, arguments have raged over whether or not Britain should welcome immigrants. This is a book about a tiny proportion of the immigrants to whom Britain did grant asylum, refuge and liberty. The Jews in Stuart times amounted to a few hundred people. Today there are still only 300,000 Jews in Britain. When they came to this country as impoverished immigrants they had no jobs, little education and could not speak English. And yet some went on to run the biggest business empires in the country. The book details the astonishing contribution Jews have made over the years to the British economy: how they sustained the currency through many wars; how they invented jigsaw puzzles and postcards; and the creation of such household names as Lyons, Glaxo, Burtons, Shell, ICI, Ladbrokes and many more. Derek Taylor examines the background of their founders to see what enabled them to spot opportunities that others missed and how they overcame obstacles and succeeded where others failed. Over 350 firms are examined to describe the survival and economic growth of the Jews in Britain and to assess the contribution of their cultural and religious background to the success of these entrepreneurs.