The document introduces the Business & IP Centre at the British Library. It provides a brief history of the Centre, noting that it was originally the Patent Office Library in 1852 and is now open to anyone doing research. The summary describes the resources and services offered at the Centre, including trade directories, journals, industry guides, workshops, advice sessions, and networking events. It also outlines the Centre's impact since opening in 2006, including over 750,000 visitors, 100,000 advice sessions, and helping diverse audiences. Finally, it introduces the Business & IP Centre Network across the UK.

1. Introduction to the
Business & IP Centre
Neil Infield
Manager Business & IP Centre
neil.infield@bl.uk

2. 2
Was the library of last resort

3. 3
Now open for anyone who wants to do research
academic, personal or commercial

4. History of the Business & IP Centre
• 1852 -
Creation of the Patent Office Library
• 1973 -
Creation of British Library
• 1982 -
Business information collection
• 2006 -
Opening of Business & IP Centre

5. 55%
21%
19%
18%
12%
10%
8%
8%
6%
5%
5%
Understand
market/customers/clients
Help write a business plan
Quiet working space
Develop idea
Help launch new business
Help expand business
Test feasibility of business
idea
Studying
Help protect idea/design
Find out if idea/design
original
Patent search Base: All setting up/running business and
living/working/setting up business in London (155)
What was your reason for using the
Business and IP Centre today?

6. What do
we offer?

7. £50+ million
pounds worth of
information for
free!


8. Trade
directories

9. Trade and
business
journals

10. 10
Industry
and IP
Guides
to get
you
started

11. Inspiring Entrepreneurs – live screenings and
webcasts
Charles Dunstone, Anya Hindmarch,
Kanya King and Tom Pellereau,
Question Time for Entrepreneurs, 17
Nov 2014, Global Entrepreneurship
Week
Lord Sugar
Richard Reed
Innocent Drinks
Martha Lane Fox
LastMinute.com
Deborah
Meaden

12. Workshops on a wide range of topics

13. One to one
advice

15. How have
we done?

16. Since opening in March 2006 we have…
• Welcomed over 750,000
people into the Centre
• 100,000 have received
advice, guidance and
training
• Delivered over 15,000
workshops and 1:1
advice sessions.
* Economic Impact Evaluation of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, Adroit Economics Ltd, based on survey of 1, 201 respondents, April 2012

17. Since opening in March 2006 we have…
• Run fifty Inspiring
Entrepreneurs events
with role model
entrepreneurs
• Helped diverse
audiences:
58% women
39% BAME
11% disabled
* Economic Impact Evaluation of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, Adroit Economics Ltd, based on survey of 1, 201 respondents, April 2012

18. We have increased chance of success:

19. Facebook page – 5,327 following
BIPC TV channel – 586,630 views
8,542 followers on Twitter
10,623 members on LinkedIn
Innovation & Enterprise blog 12 years
Email mailing list of 30,000 readers

20. We grew a National Network of
Business & IP Centres working with
city libraries across the country

21. Developed a
Business & IP Centre Blueprint
Leverages Business
and Intellectual
Property collections
and expertise across
the network
Practical workshops
delivered by library
staff and experienced
business partners
Mentoring
and 1:1
advice,
including
Entrepren
eur and
Inventor in
Residence
Networking
events,
including
Inspiring
Entrepreneurs
Trusted portal to other
local and national
Services (Knowledge)
Accessible and
open to all, including
diverse and
disadvantaged
communities (People)
Central city location,
with excellent facilities
(Places)

22. All based in
city/central
libraries
Business & IP Centre Network
1. British Library
2. Birmingham
3. Brighton & Hove (Pilot)
4. Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (Pilot)
5. Exeter/Devon
6. Glasgow
7. Hull
8. Leeds
9. Liverpool
10. Manchester
11. Newcastle upon Tyne
12. Northampton/Northants
13. Norwich/Norfolk
14. Nottingham (Pilot)
15. Sheffield
16. Worcestershire (Pilot)
In conversation with…
Aberdeen
Belfast
Bournemouth
Bristol
Cardiff
Edinburgh
Gloucestershire
Ipswich
Oxfordshire
Tees Valley
Our National Network