Business & IP Centre

Business & IP Centre Visit our website for more information: bl.uk/bipc British Library information experts are on hand to guide you to the resources you need.

Your ideas, our support 💡 We're here to help small business owners, entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors to start, protect, and grow their successful businesses. The Business & IP Centre offers free access to the UK’s most comprehensive collection of business and intellectual property information. The information resources are estimated at some £5 million, giving small businesses access to the

same, if not better, resources than those of a large multinational company. The collection includes market research reports, directories, trade journals, patent, trade mark and registered design specifications and 30 up-to-the minute online databases with information on companies and markets. Anyone is welcome to use the Library; you just need to gain a free Reader Pass. The Centre also offers free and highly discounted workshops, advice sessions and networking events run by British Library staff and its partners, designed to give you the skills, tools and networks necessary to start up and run a business. These include ‘Beginner's guide to intellectual property’, ‘Beginner’s guide to business information’ and ‘Online marketing masterclass’. If you are an exciting and ambitious London-based small business, our free business support programme, Innovating for Growth can help. Expert advice and support, tailored to your specific requirements, the programme covers the essential skills needed to accelerate your business growth. From business strategy to sustainability and branding to developing your product, the programme will ensure your successful business growth. Meet our Business & IP Centre staff at stand 700 to find out how we can help you start and grow your business. Our staff will also be running two seminars during the show to tell you more about the businesses we’ve supported. Sign up to the monthly e-newsletter to keep up-to-date with all the Centre news, at https://forms.bl.uk/newsletters

13/08/2026

Reliable business information, right at your fingertips, and completely free...

What are you waiting for?

Whether you’re starting, growing or researching a business, visit the Business & IP Centre at the British Library with your free Reader Pass to explore our business databases and explore resources to help your business succeed.

💻 Find out more about our databases: https://bit.ly/3UvgIMw
📚 Get your free Reader Pass: https://bit.ly/4wnW26k

Manchester, we're on our way! 🚣We're bringing our quarterly Start-up Stars event to Manchester Central Library on 3 Sept...
05/08/2026

Manchester, we're on our way! 🚣

We're bringing our quarterly Start-up Stars event to Manchester Central Library on 3 September, in collaboration with BIPC Greater Manchester

Featuring a great panel of graduates from the Get Ready for Business Growth scale-up programme, get ready for an evening of inspiration and networking as successful entrepreneurs discuss how they used their skills to start their businesses.

Panel to be announced soon but expect to hear business tips and tricks from business owners who have been exactly where you are.

Tickets are free and available now: https://events.bl.uk/events/start-up-stars-skills-into-startups

Got big plans for your business? 🚀Our Get Ready for Business Growth scale up programme is open for applications.The free...
28/07/2026

Got big plans for your business? 🚀

Our Get Ready for Business Growth scale up programme is open for applications.

The free programme is packed full of one-to-one guidance from business experts, covering everything from financial resilience to marketing and branding. You'll even receive bespoke market research to help you shape the future of your business.

Ready to grow? If you are based in the UK and turning over £80,000 a year, you're eligible. Apply now by emailing [email protected] to register your business or find out more on our website:
https://www.bl.uk/bipc/growing-your-business/get-ready-for-business-growth

📅 Here's what we've got coming up this July at the British Library and online...From fashion and intellectual property t...
06/07/2026

📅 Here's what we've got coming up this July at the British Library and online...

From fashion and intellectual property to market research and making the most of our free business databases, our free workshops are designed to help you build your knowledge and grow your business.

Book your place today and take the next step in your business journey: https://lnkd.in/e8vxuSp7

19/06/2026

Business support? Find it at the library

Did you know Business & IP Centres are in many libraries all across the country and can help turn your idea into a business? From IP guidance, free access to market research and dedicated experts and workshops, so if you’re starting up, or growing your business, start in your local library with the BIPC.

https://libraryon.org/libraries?service=business-support

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Against the Odds at the British...
16/06/2026

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Against the Odds at the British Library, and to those who tuned in online. We hope everyone left feeling inspired, empowered by new ideas and insights and confident about turning those learnings into action.

We opened the evening with reflections from Alison Cork MBE, who shared the lessons she has learned throughout her entrepreneurial journey and set the tone with powerful words on building and backing women-led businesses. This was followed by an inspiring conversation featuring Esh*ta Kabra-Davies, Victoria Jenkins, Yandis Ying and Dr Roni Savage OBE FREng, moderated by Leanne Pero MBE.

From navigating setbacks to building confidence and resilience, the panel shared lessons and advice from their business journeys across multiple industries. The conversation continued with an engaging audience Q&A and networking session, giving attendees the chance to connect directly with experienced founders.

Couldn’t make it? We’ve got you covered all year round.

⭐ Join us for Start-up Stars at The British Library or online on Wednesday 1 July to hear first-hand stories from entrepreneurs who have grown through our scale-up programme, sharing what they wish they’d known when they started up: https://lnkd.in/eKb-wP6Q

💡 Check out our free business workshops, webinars and one-to-one support to help you start up and grow: https://bit.ly/eventsbipc

Your next business opportunity could be one conversation away... Join us at our Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Against the Odd...
05/06/2026

Your next business opportunity could be one conversation away...

Join us at our Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Against the Odds event on Monday 15 June at the British Library (and online) and hear from entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges to build successful businesses.

Join us in-person to meet our speakers face-to-face, ask your questions during the live Q&A and connect with fellow entrepreneurs over drinks after the panel. Whether you're looking for fresh inspiration, practical advice or valuable new connections, you never know where one conversation might lead.

Book today: https://link.bl.uk/BIPC_IEAgainstTheOdds

02/06/2026

Knowledge. Connection. Inspiration.

Get honest insights from our panel of start-up founders at the British Library or online on 15 June.

Book now: https://link.bl.uk/BIPC_IEAgainstTheOdds

Don't miss the chance to learn from our panel? network with our community and walk away feeling inspired.

Tickets are selling fast! Have you secured yours? 👀 Let's see who else is joining us at the British Library  and online ...
21/05/2026

Tickets are selling fast! Have you secured yours? 👀

Let's see who else is joining us at the British Library and online on Monday 15 June for our Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Against the Odds event...

🌟 Alison Cork MBE 🌟

An entrepreneur, author and broadcaster, Alison has been building businesses since her student days and is the founder of National Women's Enterprise Week. Her latest venture, LEKA LEKA, reflects her continued focus on innovation and adapting to changing consumer needs. Alison will open the evening by sharing what she has learned from decades of entrepreneurship.

🌟 Leanne Pero MBE🌟

Leanne founded The Movement Factory at 15, growing it into a Nike London partner and raising over £500,000 to deliver dance programmes for young people across London. After her breast cancer diagnosis at 30, she founded Black Women Rising, supporting over 800 women of colour affected by cancer and raising over £1.1 million. She was awarded an MBE in 2023 and a Pride of Britain Award in 2025, and will be our moderator for the evening.

Don't miss out! Book your ticket now: https://link.bl.uk/BIPC_IEAgainstTheOdds

Next up on our speaker line-up... 🥤 We are delighted to welcome Yandis Ying, founder and CEO of Dot Dot Bubble Tea.Found...
14/05/2026

Next up on our speaker line-up... 🥤

We are delighted to welcome Yandis Ying, founder and CEO of Dot Dot Bubble Tea.

Founded as a small café in North London, Dot Dot has grown into the UK’s first premium low sugar ready-to-drink bubble tea brand, now stocked nationwide.

Yandis will share her experience of building a fast-scaling FMCG brand that blends culture, functionality and community

🎟️ Secure your ticket today to hear Yandis's story! Tickets available here: https://link.bl.uk/BIPC_IEAgainstTheOdds

Address

96 Euston Road
London
NW12DB

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 8pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 8pm
Thursday 9:30am - 8pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

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