Knowledge matters to a competitive economy: without free access to timely, accurate information, and the expert advice needed to interpret and act upon it, too many businesses fail in their earliest stages. Our commitment to support industry was at the heart of the Library’s founding Act half a century ago, and it feels more relevant now than ever before. Our users range from the large corporations who access hard-to-find research papers from our On Demand service to the enterprising individuals who walk into one of our network of Business & IP Centres (BIPCs) in regional and local public libraries.

Our priorities:

• sustain our expanded Business & IP Centre network so that we can support entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds across the UK, including those in our local neighbourhoods
• provide start-ups, businesses and social enterprises with the knowledge they need to contribute to the UK’s goal of sustainable economic growth and a net zero economy
• work with partners to ensure that the businesses we support benefit from access to relevant expertise in ethical AI and other advances in technology.