National Network

The Business & IP Centre national network is a collaboration between the British Library, the Intellectual Property Office and six city libraries in England with existing business and intellectual property collections and expertise. The Centres are places where people can come together to learn, network and access free and low-cost advice and support in starting, developing and running a business or protecting a business idea.

Our vision is to create an established network of Business & IP Centres across the UK by 2020, with the first wave of Centres complete by 2014. In February 2013 the network received support from Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, as part of the Enterprising Libraries project in partnership with Arts Council England. Enterprising Libraries draws on each library’s role as a community hub to spark local economic growth, creating opportunities for entrepreneurial activity for people of all backgrounds.