Business

Get help to start and grow your business. Our Business & IP Centre network offers free events, workshops and one-to-ones. Plus the UK’s largest collection of business and intellectual property (IP) information to give your business the edge.

Find your local Business & IP Centre

Join free business events and workshops

Get business research and resources

Starting or scaling up a business?

Our free programmes can help you get your idea off the ground or take your business to the next level.

A business woman smiles while holding two cushions in the air to show off her products.

Start your business

Kickstart Your Business with our free two-day programme in London. Get practical tips to get your start-up off the ground and turn your idea into a reality. You'll receive tailored business information on everything from finding your customers to researching and protecting your brand.

Kickstart your business

Grow your business

Scale up your business with our Get Ready for Business Growth programme. One-to-one mentoring, tailored workshops, bespoke research and much more, to help you take your business to the next level.

Grow your business

How can the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) support me?

Find a small business community and face-to-face business support at the Business & IP Centre.

On stage business speakers clap during a business event

Watch inspiring entrepreneurs on-demand

Big-name entrepreneurs and budding start-up stars regularly share their experiences and tips about growing a business at our events.

A man and a woman talk at a business centre (BIPC) in Brighton Library.

Business networking and events

Meet other small business owners, book one-to-ones with our business specialists and learn from industry leaders on funding, marketing and more.

A business man stands in a cafe doorway.

Read our business blog

Explore our success stories, keep up with essential business trends and learn about intellectual property and patents.

A business woman sits and consults resources at a Business & IP Centre in Bristol.

Explore IP and industry guides

Protect and monetise your intellectual property (IP), book a session with a specialist and uncover valuable market insights for your sector.

Free business support local to you

As well as at the British Library in London, Business & IP Centres (BIPCs) are based in over 70 libraries in the UK. At many BIPCs you can also find other specialist services to help your business journey, such as podcast studios and maker spaces.

Find your local business centre

Our impact

PDF, 9.6MB

Democratising Entrepreneurship: impact report

Find out how the Business & IP Centre is helping to create thousands of small business success stories and driving economic growth across the UK.

Contact us

Address
Business & IP Centre (BIPC) and Reading Room
Floor 1, The British Library
96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB

Or find your local business centre.

Email bipc@bl.uk

Instagram @businessandipcentre

LinkedIn @Business & IP Centre

More business services

View from above of the Humanities Reading Room in the British Library in London, with people sat at desks.

Reading Rooms and study spaces

Use our free study spaces in London and West Yorkshire. They have comfy seats, power outlets and free Wi-Fi.

Research

A man stands talking to a member of staff at a British Library Reading Room help desk

Get your Reader Pass

A library card that gives you free access to our world-leading collection and Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire.

Research

Commercial venue hire

Host your next event at the British Library. Discover our iconic spaces that are available to hire.

Business

Digitise your collections

The British Library's digitisation services include scoping, funding advice, photography, scanning, multispectral assessment and high-quality printing.

Research