Entrepreneurs and small businesses are set to benefit from a unique new service designed to enable people to protect, research and commercialise their ideas.
The new Business & Intellectual Property (IP) Centre, currently in development in Nottingham Central Library is one of fourteen centres across the UK. It is modelled on the successful British Library Business & IP Centre in London, in partnership with the UK Intellectual Property Office, and allows entrepreneurs to take advantage of free intellectual property and business information and expertise.
The Centre officially launches on Thursday 20th September and entrepreneurs and small businesses are invited along to the library on to find out more and take part in activities as part of the Business & IP Centre National Start-up Day, a campaign delivered for start-ups and entrepreneurs in libraries across the UK.
This is the biggest ever coordinated Start-up Day on 20 September, taking place across the British Library Business & IP Centre National Network and other city libraries across the UK, inviting everyone with a brilliant idea to visit their local library and take their first steps to turning that idea into a viable business.
A day of practical workshops and talks will inform attendees about how to protect their ideas, write a business plan, manage social media and pitch for investment. Start-up Day is open to all with ambitions to start up a business across the country, from the British Library in London and libraries in Barnstaple, Birmingham, Cambridge, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, King’s Lynn, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Norwich, Thetford, Sheffield and Worcester.
The Nottingham Business & IP Centre’s Start-up Day will feature workshops including How to Design a Digital Marketing plan with Google Digital Garage and the chance to hear from local entrepreneurs as part of Start-up Stars talks series.
Cllr Dave Trimble Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said: “We’re delighted to be launching this fantastic, innovative project which will give anyone thinking of starting their own business the opportunity to access the help they need to get their idea off the ground. Start-up day has always been an important and popular event for us and with the opening of the Business & IP Centre at Central Library it will continue going from strength to strength.”
Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library said: “Start-up Day has become an unmissable event for aspiring business owners around the UK. This year I am particularly pleased to welcome Cambridge, Nottingham and Glasgow to our Business & IP Centre National Network. The British Library has a mission to help business to innovate and grow, both at St Pancras and across the UK – that means making sure everyone with a great business idea knows that they are welcome here.”
Isabel Oswell, Head of Business & Research Audiences at the British Library, said: “Start-up Day marks an important day in our calendar to celebrate what our Business & IP Centre and network offer to budding entrepreneurs every moment we open our doors. We aim to provide widespread access to everyone who wants to learn how to build a successful business, no matter what their background. Year on year, we’re proving that the Centres are an indispensable hub for ensuring start-ups and small businesses thrive.”
Start-up Day is generously supported by Santander.
Santander Business Managing Director Sue Douthwaite said “Our collaboration with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre Start-up Day helps further our work with SMEs and start-ups. This initiative places us at the heart of the community, offering truly accessible banking expertise to SMEs and start-ups. It builds on the substantial work we have done with small businesses, and positions us at the forefront of efforts to help people and businesses in the UK prosper.”