What is the British Library’s Business and IP Centre?

Based in the British Library, libraries across the UK, and online, the British Library’s Business & IP Centre National Network offers a busy programme of free events, workshops and one-to-ones with their team of specialists, as well as access to the largest collection of business and intellectual property (IP) information in the UK, including market research, funding, and company information.

In this article we’ve collaborated with the Business & IP Centre to outline how they could support businesses from across the UK.

What is the Business & IP Centre?

Created by the British Library in 2006, the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) provides impartial business support and market intelligence to aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, and scale-up businesses.

As well as the resources and support available online, the BIPC is an accessible space in the British Library main building with free working areas, Wi-Fi, and access to a wealth of business information and resources.

Whether you want to find out more about protecting your intellectual property, need specific competitor or consumer information, or want to develop your business plan, the BIPC is intended to help.

The BIPC network offers support to over 40,000 people every year to start, grow, and protect their business ideas.

The BIPC in the British Library is just one part of a large network of BIPCs in libraries across the UK.

The National Network of BIPCs also offer impartial information and support to any business.

The BIPCs across the UK are physical hubs where small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can come together to learn, network, and access reliable market intelligence not available for free anywhere else.  

National Network of Business & IP Centres

The BIPC National Network is also intended to provide business support to local communities across the UK.

Each of the 20 regional centres runs its own programme of business support, including one-to-one appointments with business experts-in-residence and events with local entrepreneurs and business owners.

BIPC staff are trained to meet the needs of small businesses by both the British Library and the Intellectual Property Office.

The programme of activities for each BIPC is designed specifically to suit local needs and opportunities.

Each BIPC works within the local business support ecosystem, partnering with public and private sector organisations to co-deliver the services, with cross-referrals to relevant support.

As well as busy programmes of events and one-to-one business support, BIPCs across the UK also have a range of facilities including maker spaces, podcast studios, photography studios and equipment, co-working spaces, and meeting rooms.

From Devon, to Norfolk, Newcastle to Glasgow, with 20 regional centres and over 50 local hubs based in local libraries across the UK, businesses can find their local hub via the interactive map on the BIPC website.

What does the British Library’s Business & IP Centre offer?

There are a number of ways the Business & IP Centre could support businesses across the UK.

Business support and research

The BIPC offers free specialist one-to-one business support and market research for all stages of the business journey, in person or online.

Business owners can access free industry guides, research, and specific guidance on patents and intellectual property, and can also visit the BIPC and use its business databases with help from a member of the BIPC team.

With access to market research databases, sector information, consumer research and competitor data, the BIPC offers business information to help business owners write business plans, find out more about their sector and competitors, understand financial and tax complexities, and deepen their knowledge of market trends.

Working together with the Intellectual Property Office, BIPC services also aim to empower business owners to innovate, protect, and commercialise their intellectual property, whether it be a new product, design, logo, or company name – or, indeed, a combination of these.

Intellectual property is particularly important to the creative industries, allowing the owner of the rights in literary or artistic works to control how those works are used.

Events and workshops

From panel talks with industry leaders to specialist workshops on intellectual property, funding, marketing, and more, the Business & IP Centre business events programme is designed to inform and inspire business owners.

The British Library BIPC hosts Inspiring Entrepreneurs events several times a year.

Featuring successful entrepreneurs who have started and grown their own businesses from the ground up, these events offer an opportunity to learn from industry leaders and to network with fellow entrepreneurs.

As well as regular workshops on intellectual property, marketing, building a fashion business, and a monthly Inventors’ Club amongst others, the BIPC runs series of business masterclasses throughout the year.

These free sessions are designed to help entrepreneurs expand their business knowledge.

Covering grant fundraising, finances, the business legal landscape, business strategy development and more, the Masterclasses series is specifically designed to help move a business forward.

Kickstart Your Business

Kickstart Your Business is the British Library Business & IP Centre’s start-up programme.

The free, two-day programme is intended to provide practical tips to turn a business idea into a reality.

Taking place in BIPCs across six London boroughs, Kickstart Your Business offers tailored business information on everything from finding customers to researching and protecting a brand.

Get Ready for Business Growth

Get Ready for Business Growth is an accelerator programme for scale-up businesses run by the British Library’s Business & IP Centre.

The three-month programme offers one-to-one mentoring, tailored workshops, bespoke research and more to help take a business to the next level.

Since 2022, BIPC have empowered over 400 individuals to innovate and grow their business.

Any business turning over £80,000+ outside of London, or £100,000+ in London, is eligible to apply.

For businesses turning over £100,000+, BIPC also offer a six-month mentorship programme where attendees are paired with an SME from the BIPC scale-up programme, who will help the attendee navigate the challenges of growing their business.

Whether you’re looking to enhance financial resilience, embrace entrepreneurial strategies, or implement new business models, the BIPC aims to provide practical help.

To apply, email your expression of interest to [email protected].

Case study – from BIPC Oxfordshire to Get Ready for Business Growth

William Arinze, founder of The Drone Rules, used his local BIPC – BIPC Oxfordshire – to help start his business.

After leaving his job in 2021, William accessed BIPC Oxfordshire services and support to help get his drone education and consultancy business off the ground.

William used a wide range of BIPC services to support his start-up journey, including business databases, the photography and lighting equipment available at BIPC Oxfordshire, and the centre’s meeting rooms for client discussions.

Having grown his business very successfully and moved beyond the start-up stage, William has continued to use BIPC support.

William has joined the British Library BIPC’s Get Ready for Business Growth programme, taking part in its free three-month accelerator for scale-up businesses.

Through this programme, William will receive tailored support to help take his growing business to the next level.

What impact does the Business & IP Centre aim to have?

The Business & IP Centre Network intends to drive economic growth, business creation and longevity, as well as inclusion.

The BIPC aims to make starting a business accessible to anyone, and can boast some success in supporting a diverse group of entrepreneurs.

In doing so, the BIPC Network is helping to boost and strengthen both businesses and the wider economy.

For example, the British Library’s Get Ready for Business Growth programme delivered £16.84 return on investment for every £1 of public money spent.

As well as attempting to reach and support underrepresented groups, the BIPC has a proven track record of helping businesses to grow and thrive.

With unmatched free access to market intelligence, personalised business support, and specific guidance on protecting intellectual property, the BIPC could help give your business the edge it needs to succeed.

Who can benefit from using the BIPC?

Whether you’re seeking to start-up or scale-up, the Business & IP Centre may be able to help.

Indeed, the BIPC National Network aims to offer business support to anyone and everyone who wants or needs it. 

For a full list of support and services, please visit the BIPC website.