London, Feb 6: From rebuilding a war-torn nation to powering one of the world’s most advanced digital economies, the Indian diaspora has been central to Britain’s modern story. A new white paper launched in London offers one of the most comprehensive accounts to date of how successive generations of Indians have helped shape the United Kingdom’s economic strength, public services, and global influence.
Released by Manish Tiwari, Founder of Here & Now 365 — the UK’s first multicultural advertising agency — in collaboration with the Aston India Centre at Aston University, the white paper maps four major waves of Indian migration to the UK since India’s independence. Together, they form a narrative of resilience, adaptation, and contribution that spans more than seven decades.
The first wave of migration emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War, when Britain faced acute labour shortages. Indian migrants answered that call, working across manufacturing, transport, and public services, and laying the early foundations of what would become the National Health Service. Their contribution was not merely economic; it helped stabilise a nation in recovery.
The second wave followed a historic rupture in the early 1970s, when the expulsion of Asians from East Africa under Idi Amin forced thousands of families — many of Indian origin who had earlier migrated under British rule — to seek refuge in the UK. Arriving with entrepreneurial instincts and professional experience, this group went on to build businesses, revive local economies, and entrench a culture of enterprise that continues to define many British towns and cities.
The third wave marked a structural shift. As Britain transitioned towards a knowledge-driven economy, Indian migration increasingly comprised highly skilled professionals in finance, medicine, engineering, and education. This phase signalled a move from predominantly blue-collar labour to leadership in knowledge-intensive sectors, reinforcing Britain’s competitiveness in a globalised world.
The fourth and most recent wave, shaped by the post-Brexit and post-Covid landscape, highlights the strategic importance of Indian talent in addressing critical skills shortages. Indian professionals have played a decisive role in sustaining healthcare and social care systems during periods of national vulnerability, while technology specialists have helped strengthen Britain’s digital infrastructure and innovation capacity. The report notes that Indian-born professionals now account for around 15% of the UK’s technology workforce, underlining their outsized role in driving innovation, digital transformation, and productivity in a sector vital to national growth.
Drawing on economic and labour market data, the white paper positions the Indian community as the most economically successful migrant group in the UK. It points to high levels of employment, educational attainment, and entrepreneurship, noting that professionals of Indian origin make up a significant share of the country’s technology and IT ecosystem — an industry in which Britain ranks second globally only to the United States and China.
Reflecting on the findings, Manish Tiwari states the diaspora’s contribution within Britain’s broader national journey:
“Indian migrants helped rebuild Britain after the war, powered its digital revolution, and strengthened its health and care systems in times of crisis. The Indian diaspora has played a defining role in building the tech superpower Britain is today and continues to contribute across every layer of society.”
The white paper argues that these contributions are not episodic, but cumulative — each wave building on the last to create long-term economic resilience and social cohesion.
From an institutional and academic perspective, Aston University underscores the strategic significance of this relationship. As the report notes, “The Indian diaspora is woven into the UK’s growth story. The diaspora supports the UK’s public services delivery and powers innovation while also shaping future competitiveness and global influence through skills, enterprise, and people-to-people links with India.” This framing places the diaspora at the intersection of domestic prosperity and international partnership.
The report features forewords from Navendu Mishra MP; Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University; Sir Oliver Dowden MP; Dr Koolesh Shah; and Pankaj Sharma, Chief Business Officer at Remitly, reflecting cross-party political support and strong engagement from academia and business.
The white paper was formally launched at the House of Lords, signalling the growing recognition of diaspora contributions at the highest levels of public life. The event brought together policymakers, business leaders, cultural figures, and academics, marking the first public presentation of the research.
A panel discussion moderated by Professor Pawan Budhwar, 50th Anniversary Professor of International Human Resource Management and Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor International at Aston University, explored the future of diaspora-led growth. Panelists included Neetal Parekh of the BBC; Chithra Ramakrishnan MBE, Founder of ShruthiUK and the British Carnatic Choir; Aga Biegluk of Infosys; and Upasna Gupta of Mastek UK Ltd, offering perspectives across media, culture, technology, and human capital.
Presentations by Professor Sangeeta Khorana, Joint Director of the Aston India Centre, and Manish Tiwari connected historical insight with contemporary policy and business realities. The event opened with remarks and the formal release of the white paper by Lord Loomba CBE, & Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea CBE DL, followed by a vote of thanks from Mr Ghanshyam H. Nabar, Director of UICONNECT Ltd.
At a time of global economic competition and shifting geopolitical alignments, the white paper concludes that the story of Indian migration to Britain is not only a record of past achievement, but a blueprint for future collaboration — reinforcing the enduring importance of the Indian diaspora in shaping Britain’s prosperity, identity, and role on the world stage.