Business support in libraries
“The seminars and one-to-one sessions on marketing, intellectual property and business coaching were incredibly valuable.”
Business & IP Centres in libraries
You can find British Library Business & IP Centres (BIPCs) in more than 70 public libraries across the UK.
They support over 40,000 people every year to start and grow their businesses with free, impartial support.
They offer invaluable training and networking opportunities, and offer the UK’s largest collection of business and intellectual property (IP) information.
Did you know?
90% of businesses that start with the support of a Business & IP Centre are still trading after three years (the national average is 50%).
Find business support at a library near you
Browse the map to find libraries offering business support, including BIPCs. Or, search our national library map.
How BIPC helped Ben’s business
Ben founded Saints Coffee, a social enterprise coffee chain.
He did it with the help of BIPC Northamptonshire, which is based in Northamptonshire Central Library.
Read video transcript
Chapter 1: Intro
My name is Ben Françoise, and I’m the owner and founder of Saints Coffee — a social enterprise coffee shop and cocktail bar in the heart of Northampton.
Chapter 2: About Saints Coffee
At Saints Coffee, we sell speciality coffee, craft cocktails, and a selection of excellent wines sourced from local Northampton suppliers. We also offer a wide range of craft beers, brunch dishes, and charcuterie boards featuring English cheeses and British cured meats.
The BIPC Northamptonshire supported my business with a grant that helped us purchase key equipment to deliver high-quality coffee to our customers. In addition to the funding, the seminars and one-to-one sessions on topics like marketing, intellectual property, and business coaching were incredibly valuable in helping me understand how to build and grow a new business.
The IP sessions, in particular, made me think seriously about trademarking and protecting our brand as we continue to expand.
Chapter 3: Proudest Moment
My proudest moment—beyond opening our doors during a lockdown and the pandemic—was launching our flagship social enterprise project: Baristas.
Baristas is an employability program designed to help people back into work by using our business as a live hospitality training environment. Participants gain hands-on experience as baristas, chefs, and front-of-house staff. It’s one of the key reasons I wanted to start a business in Northampton—to make a positive social impact in the community.
Chapter 4: Future Plans
Looking ahead, our goal is to build a brand that people recognise as proudly originating in Northampton—known for great coffee and cocktail bars. We also plan to explore new food and restaurant concepts, continuing to expand our social enterprise projects so we can help even more people through meaningful employment opportunities.
Chapter 5: Business Advice
My best piece of business advice would be to have purpose at the heart of what you do—not just profit. When your business has purpose, it connects with the community in a deeper way. People appreciate and support companies that give back while providing great products and services.
End of transcript
Questions about Business & IP Centres
What do Business & IP Centres offer?
At Business & IP Centres you can find:
- High-value market information to research your market, customers and competitors
- Workshops and one-to-ones on all the essentials of starting a business
- Help with intellectual property and protecting your business idea
- A buzzing business community and events programme
- Meeting rooms, podcast studios and maker spaces (varies by location).
They also offer a toolkit for startups which you can download for free.
How do I find a Business & IP Centre?
Explore the map above, or visit bl.uk/bipc.
Where can I hear from people who have used Business & IP Centres?
You can browse BIPC case studies to hear from entrepreneurs who have used its services to start, grow and protect their businesses.
Do I need to pay to attend Business & IP Centre events?
The majority of BIPC events are completely free. Occasionally there are small charges for some events. There is no cost to visit a Business & IP Centre and access its resources.
Can I catch up with past Business & IP Centre events?
Yes, many are available to watch as recordings on the BIPC website.