Isobel Oswell, British Library

1. The Value of Enterprise Collaboration
Working with enterprising libraries
Isabel Oswell, Head of Business Audiences
NEN Conference, 5 December 2014

2. Quiz
Q. How many public libraries are there in the UK?
A.4,134
Q. How many visits to public libraries are the every year?
A.288 million
Q. When did YOU last visit your city/local library?
www.bl.uk 2

3. Our Mission
We support entrepreneurs and
innovators from that first spark of
inspiration to successfully launching
and growing a business.
DEVELOP YOUR
IDEAS AND
BUSINESS SKILLS
PROTECT YOUR
PRODUCT AND
YOUR BRAND
IDENTIFY MARKET
GAPS
AND POTENTIAL
CUSTOMERS
DEVELOP YOUR
BUSINESS
STRATEGY AND
PLAN
LAUNCH YOUR
NEW PRODUCT/
SERVICE
IDENTIFY NEW
OPPORTUNITIES
AND GROW YOUR
BUSINESS
www.bl.uk 3

4. The Business & IP Centre in London
 Comprehensive Business and IP information
(worth £5m) and expertise
 Workshop rooms and networking area
 Specific facilities for disabled users
 Conference Centre for ‘Inspiring
Entrepreneurs’ and other large-scale events
 25+ strategic partners operating at a national
level, 20+ service delivery partners, with
complementary skills and over 75 marketing
partners
 Strong customer networks built up using
social media and online
(>1m interactions)
 Significant goodwill and pro bono support
from ‘role model’ entrepreneurs and
professional advisors
www.bl.uk 4

5. The London success story to date
Since opening in March 2006, the Centre has
 Developed a highly successful partner
programme
 Attracted over £13 million of in-kind benefits,
including sponsorship, pro bono advice and
support and press coverage
 Between April 2005 and March 2011 we
helped to create 2,775 new businesses and a
further 3,345 new jobs.*
 The combined turnover for these businesses
was £153 million and 84% of their founders
say this success would not have been
achieved without our help.*
 Welcomed over 400,000 people through
the doors
 Of whom over 40,000 have received direct
advice, guidance and training
 Delivered over 6,000 workshops and 1:1
advice sessions, along with established
high profile Inspiring Entrepreneurs sell-out
series of events with role model
entrepreneurs
 Successfully reached out to diverse
audiences: 58% women, 40% BAME, 5%
disabled
* Economic Impact Evaluation of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, Adroit Economics Ltd, based
on survey of 1, 201 respondents, April 2012
www.bl.uk 5

6. We increase people’s chances of success
www.bl.uk 6

7. Our Vision
We will be the ‘front door’ to business support
for SMEs and entrepreneurs, from all walks of
life, across the UK.
By 2020, there will be a network of Centres in
city libraries throughout the UK which provide
trusted face-to-face IP and innovation support.
The Centres will play an essential in local
Growth Hubs and will signpost people to
relevant local and national support services.
The national network will help to expand the
pool of entrepreneurial talent and increase
people’s chance of success, leading to the
creation of robust businesses, more jobs and
thereby contribute to economic growth across
the UK.
www.bl.uk 7

8. Widespread support for the National Network
Libraries play a vital role in
enabling everyone to access
knowledge and these Centres
offer a really positive example of
how that knowledge includes
access to advice, guidance and
support for business…we think
there is a good fit between what
the Centres are doing and their
participation in Growth Hubs.
Matthew Hancock MP, Minister
for Skills and Enterprise
June 2014
When you pick up your library
card in the future, you could be
collecting a card for new career.
Eric Pickles, Secretary of State
for Communities & Local
Government
February 2013
www.bl.uk 8

9. Business & IP Centre Model
Practical workshops
delivered by library
staff and experienced
business partners
Business and
intellectual
property collections
and expertise
Trusted portal to other
local and national
services (part of
Growth Hub)
Mentoring and
1:1 advice,
including
Entrepreneur
and Inventor in
Residence
Accessible and
open to all, including
diverse and
disadvantaged
communities
Networking
events,
including
Inspiring
Entrepreneurs
Central city
location, with excellent facilities
www.bl.uk 9

10. Business & IP Centre National Network
Business & IP Centres
City libraries, which are part of PatLib and have business
libraries:
Birmingham
Leeds
London
Manchester
Sheffield
Liverpool
Newcastle upon Tyne
Enterprising Libraries
Hull
Exeter/Devon
Ealing, Harrow & Hounslow (tri-borough bid)
Enfield
Haringey
Greater Manchester
Middlesbrough
Northampton/Northants
Norwich/Norfolk
Portsmouth
PatLib UK Libraries
Glasgow
Aberdeen
Belfast
Llandudno
Newport (IPO)
Plymouth
www.bl.uk 10

11. Our National Network partners
Leeds Central
Library of Birmingham Sheffield Central
Liverpool Central
Newcastle City
Library
Manchester Central
www.bl.uk 11

12. Enterprising Libraries
Norwich Millennium Library Exeter Central Library
Norwich Millennium Library Central Library
Portsmouth Central Library
Hull Central Library Wellingborough Library
www.bl.uk 12

13. Regular Workshops and Clinics
Topic Title Delivered by
Start Up Startup Saturday Enterprise Nation
Barclays Get Ready for Business Centa
IP and Innovation Beginner’s Guide to IP (available as webinar) British Library
How to search on patents/trade marks/designs (available
as webinars)
British Library and IPO
What next for your invention? Plan, Prototype, Protect London IP and Bang Creations
Inventions advice clinics Ideas21
Marketing Marketing Masterclass – developing a marketing strategy Grow
Introduction to social media (available as a webinar) British Library
Knowing your Market (available as webinar) British Library
Business Planning How to write a Business Plan – Ten questions School for Startups
Introduction to Lean Start-Up (available as webinar) British Library and Capital
Enterprise
www.bl.uk 13
Finance & Funding Essential Business Finance Johnny Martin

14. Benefits of the Business & IP Centre National
Network
• Unlocks the potential of city libraries to support IP exploitation and
innovation in their local economies and take part in Growth Hubs,
through connecting people to other local and national services
• Takes advantage of existing assets in central city locations and leverages
libraries’ unique position as trusted and accessible places with a track
record in engaging minority/disadvantaged audiences
• Provides economies of scale and makes the most of shared resources and
expertise
• Enables the delivery of much greater social and economic impact across
the country than any one library could achieve on its own
• Supports the Government’s national and local growth agenda
www.bl.uk 14

15. 5 reasons to work with the Business & IP Centre
National Network and enterprising public libraries
• Central and accessible with experience in signposting to other services
• Excellent facilities with spaces for workshops and events
• Business and intellectual property collections and expertise
• Track record in supporting diverse and disadvantaged audiences
• Potential to become delivery partners on business support programmes (ERDF
and/or ESF)
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