Leeds Central Library’s Business & IP Centre all set to host Start-up Day 2018 event this week

Sent on behalf of The British Library:

Start-up Day 2018 is the biggest ever coordinated event for start-ups, taking place in Leeds Central Library’s Business & IP Centre, the British Library Business & IP Centre and other city libraries across the UK on Thursday, 20 September. Everyone with a brilliant business idea is invited to visit their local library and take the first steps in turning that idea into a viable business.

To mark Start-up Day, 17 national city libraries will host over 150 free workshops, talks and events around the country to equip budding business owners with the tools to turn their start-up dreams into reality. They will open their doors to over 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs keen to hear from a stellar line-up of seasoned business experts who’ll be sharing their know-how and insider tips.

A day of practical workshops and talks will inform attendees about how to protect their ideas, write a business plan, manage social media. Start-up Day is open to all with ambitions to start up a business across the country, from the British Library in London and city libraries in Barnstaple, Birmingham, Cambridge, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, King’s Lynn, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Norwich, Thetford, Sheffield and Worcester.

The Business and IP Centre Leeds event will include top tips for starting a business from AD:VENTURE, digital marketing from Google Digital Garage, trade mark and copyright advice from Ward Hadaway, and several local entrepreneurs will be talking about how they turned their business idea into a reality. Martyn Walsh from Inspiral Carpets will end the day with advice for running a successful creative business.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment said:

“We have been absolutely delighted with the feedback to our Business and IP Centre at Leeds Central Library, and are very proud to be playing a full part once again this year in national Start-up Day on 20 September.

“If you are a budding business owner or entrepreneur this really is the event for you, and a brilliant opportunity to take part in a variety of free events, training and also hear from inspirational speakers offering a range of practical tips and advice.”

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 National Network. Our mission is to spearhead growth and innovation here in the Business & IP Centre in St Pancras and around 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 presented in collaboration with 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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Business and IP Centre Leeds is based in the Central Library in Leeds city centre. The centre provides a wide range of information to support business and intellectual property needs. Whether customers want to start a business, compile a business mailing list, research the market for their product/service or to check whether their inventions are new Business & IP Centre Leeds can help.

About British Library Business & IP Centre:

The British Library Business & IP Centre exists to protect and grow successful businesses. The Centre provides free access to the UK’s largest collection of intellectual property resources, market research and business data, coupled with free and low-cost training, one-to-one support and networking events in an aspiring and accessible space. Since 2012 the Library has been rolling out its model for business support to other UK city libraries, and currently heads a co-branded network of 13 partner Business & IP Centres offering comparable services to current and aspiring entrepreneurs across the country.

Full Leeds programme and tickets available here – www.bipcleeds.eventbrite.co.uk