The British Library, 96 Euston Road, NW1 2DB
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7412 7901
For enquiries about our business resources and collection email our Reference team.
We support small business owners, entrepreneurs and inventors like you. Our team are on hand all day, six days a week, to help you take the right steps to start up, protect and grow your business.
Develop your ideas with our market research and company databases, learn new skills at a workshop or mini-masterclass, have a confidential one-to-one and put your questions to some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs at our inspiring talks.
If you’re an ambitious business owner, with plans to scale-up, we also offer £10,000 worth of free support through our Innovating for Growth programme. What’s more we have ten National Network Centres around the UK - so visit us today and increase your chances of business success.
Upcoming workshops & events
Raise your profile – get your business in the media part 1
Identify your ‘hook’ for publicity
Introduction to intellectual property
Learn how intellectual property can protect you and help you profit from your business idea
Raise your profile – get your business in the media part 2
Learn the tools to do your own publicity for your small business
How to register as a limited company
A step-by-step guide on how to register a limited company
Resources to help start, run and grow your business
Starting your business
Practical advice to help get your business off the ground, from business plans to market research.
Protecting your ideas
Make sure you understand the basics of intellectual property and how to protect your product, website and brand.
Growing your business
Want to go international or expand your product range? Get top tips for taking your business to the next level.
Databases and publications
Over £5m worth of current market reports from top publishers Mintel, Frost & Sullivan, Passport and more.
Free industry and IP guides
Up-to-date quality information on intellectual property and for researching key industries, handpicked by our experts.
Our research service
Pay our experts to do research for you.
Ask an expert
For established businesses, get extra help from our IT, marketing and invention experts.
Articles
Read our articles for top tips and advice on starting and growing your business and protecting your intellectual property
National Network
Find a Business & IP Centre near you.
Information clinics
Our staff provide free hour-long advice sessions to talk through your ideas in confidence, helping you to develop your business ideas and business plan
Case studies
…I was just fascinated by how much information was here and it was all free…
Imran Merza and Taz Basunia, Jealous Sweets
…One of the most invaluable things about coming to the Centre is networking with other budding entrepreneurs…
Jessica Rose, London Jewellery School
Blog posts
A Global Entrepreneurship Week thank-you. You made our week!
Thursday, November 24, 2016We look back on the British Library’s Global Entrepreneurship Week 2016 campaign, kindly supported by Microsoft.
Co-working spaces - the ideal place to do business
Monday, November 21, 2016Co-working has grown as a flexible and collaborative working space and environment for start-ups, freelancers and even large businesses. And it is predicted that this will be the norm for the next generation of entrepreneurs, workers and the future of how we work and grow businesses.
Introducing the European exchange programme for new entrepreneurs
Monday, November 21, 2016Now we helping entrepreneurs benefit from the experience of people working in European countries through the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneur Programme. This organises exchanges between new and aspiring entrepreneurs (of any age) and experienced host businesses.
First Aid for Life – growing a business, and taking it to the next level with Innovating for Growth
Thursday, November 10, 2016Explore the journey First Aid for Life’s Emma Hammett took through the Innovating for Growth business growth programme