Business and innovation
Case Study: Turning ideas into winners
The Business & IP Centre is a hub for aspiring entrepreneurs, inventors and small businesses. It helps to turn ideas into successful products and services, offering free access to business and intellectual property databases and publications, and comprehensive advice, including a programme of workshops and seminars.
Anthony Lau began using the Centre when he founded Cyclehoop Ltd, which designs and manufactures innovative cycle parking for local authorities. He attended lectures and workshop sessions on marketing and finance as well as using the intellectual property services. He received individual help from an intellectual property lawyer, an experienced businessman and the Centre’s inventor-in-residence, Mark Sheahan.
‘The Centre’s team of friendly staff and experts are outstanding and offer excellent professional advice free of charge,’ he says. ‘With Mark’s help I was able to identify and prioritise the most important business objectives for my company. Without hesitation, I would highly recommend the Centre to anyone thinking of starting a business.’
*Net present value of £11.3 million according to an independent report conducted for the London Development Agency and the British Library, published in February 2010.
