Business & IP Centre Press Releases

Weird and Wonderful Inventions Display
15 August 2008
To raise awareness of the British Library's extensive patent collections and the Business & IP Centre's work with the UK Intellectual Property Office, on Tuesday 2 September at 6pm, Maurice Collins, OBE, MA, FRSA, will be displaying over 50 ingenious gadgets and devices conceived between 1851 - 1951, by the imaginations of a number of inventors looking to strike it rich with their ingenious contraptions. Come delve into Collins' collection and guess for yourself the obscure purpose of these eccentric creations.

Making it by design: An Open Evening with Sebastian Conran and Mandy Haberman
3 July 2008
Good design matters; research shows that every £100 businesses invest in product design repays £225 in increased sales. Design can be crucial if you are an inventor or entrepreneur launching a new product. It can help you stand out from your competitors, strengthen your brand and raise the value of your intellectual property. This evening offers a unique chance to hear from Sebastian Conran and Mandy Haberman, Britain 's foremost innovators and experts on the subject.

Signing the way forward for deaf entrepreneurs
6 May 2008
The award-winning SignVideo interpreting service will enable more aspiring entrepreneurs to turn their vision into a successful business at the British Library Business & IP Centre. The access point allows all deaf innovators to get hold of business information and advice about issues ranging from intellectual property to market research and finance resources using a British Sign Language interpreter via the SignVideo service.

Intellectual property simplified with the help of new British Library e-courses
10 April 2008
The British Library is launching an innovative and comprehensive distance learning website that will allow anyone interested in learning about intellectual property to do so without a headache. "Intellectual Property - How to Protect and Develop Your Idea" is designed to give users the confidence to learn the IP fundamentals that no-one setting up a business or launching an innovation can afford to ignore.

It's a woman's world: Top female entrepreneurs share the secrets of their success
28 February 2008
Building a successful company or securing a seat in the boardroom can still be a real challenge for aspiring women entrepreneurs. On 17 March the British Library brings together five remarkable women who have all made their business ideas into reality. 'MOTHERS OF INVENTION 3' celebrates the best of female entrepreneurial spirit and gives a platform to some of the brightest talents in British business today.

The Future of Business: Enterprise Week at the British Library
29 October 2007
The British Library Business & IP Centre presents a week of seminars, workshops, and events with high profile entrepreneurs, to offer inspiration and guidance to the next generation of enterprising individuals.

Small businesses get expert insight into market research in tie-up between British Library and Yellow Pages
07 August 2007
Entrepreneurs and small businesses are being offered free expert advice on how to carry out essential desk research on their markets and customers, thanks to a series of special workshops being run at the British Library Business & Intellectual Property (IP) Centre (www.bl.uk/bipc) in London, sponsored by Yellow Pages.

Taking your invention beyond the garden shed
08 June 2007
British Library's first 'Inventor in Residence' to give one-to-one advice to aspiring inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Mothers of Invention
15 February 2007
Female entrepreneurs are doing it for themselves.

British Library and US Department of Energy to collaborate on global science gateway
25 January 2007
The British Library, London - Dr. Raymond L. Orbach, Under Secretary for Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has signed an agreement with Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, to collaborate on the development of a global science gateway. The gateway would eventually make science information resources of many nations accessible via a single Internet portal.

New generation: meet the Ethical Entrepreneurs
09 January 2007
Role model entrepreneurs reveal how start-ups can make a difference while also making a profit - panel discussion and networking event at the British Library, January 22, 2007.

Back by popular demand - Dame Anita Roddick to share more insights at the British Library
08 January 2007
Legendary entrepreneur announces 2007 programme of advice sessions at the British Library Business & IP Centre.

The British Library response to the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property (IP)
07 December 2006
Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library, broadly welcomed yesterday's publication of the Gowers Review on Intellectual Property and the Library looks forward to continuing engagement on this important issue.

British Library business team wins top international award
01 December 2006
Business & IP Centre also short-listed in 2006 Growing Business Awards.

Commerce gets a conscience
30 October 2006
The Body Shop founder explores social change and the entrepreneurial spirit at the British Library, Wednesday 15 November, 2006.

Business & IP Centre Appoint Business and Life Coach
30 October 2006
Renowned business and life coach Rasheed Ogunlaru launches one-to-one creative advice sessions and workshops at the British Library's Business & IP Centre.

British Library launches IP manifesto
25 September 2006
"The current stand-off on IP threatens innovation, research and our digital heritage" - Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive, British Library

Media Moguls Loaded on a Free Red Hot Curry
07 September 2006
On Monday 2 October, the British Library will host 'Hot off the Press' a super-charged panel discussion. This event will bring together four trail-blazing and controversial entrepreneurial editors who will debate how best to start and develop a business in the media.

One-To-One insights from Apprentice winner Tim Campbell
07 August 2006
Tim Campbell, the winner of BBC2's The Apprentice in 2005, launches one-to-one business and motivational advice sessions at the British Library's Business & IP Centre.

The Asian Advantage - Discover the formula for success
27 June 2006
Around the globe, Asian entrepreneurs are creating world-beating businesses. In the UK, Asian companies continue to be the fastest growing business sector, and contribute well over £20 billion a year to the London economy alone.

Desperately seeking finance
06 June 2006
Innovative start-up companies are critical to the success of the UK economy, yet many entrepreneurs face the challenge of finding the advice and support on how they can access finance.

The Rise and Rise of the Black British Entrepreneurs
18 April 2006
Inspiring future black business success
Four of the UK's leading black business role models will reveal the secrets of their success at 'The Rise and Rise of the Black British Entrepreneurs' discussion panel and networking reception at The British Library on Monday 15 May.

One-to-one with Dame Anita Roddick
13 March 2006
Legendary entrepreneur launches one-to-one creative advice sessions at the British Library's Business & IP Centre

25,000 Start-Up Success Stories
08 March 2006
Business & IP Centre's ambitious target: to help launch 25,000 new UK businesses
On Thursday 9 March, the British Library opens the doors of its enhanced Business & IP Centre. This trusted service will cut costs for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and is designed to support entrepreneurs from the initial spark of inspiration through to successfully launching and developing a business. The Centre aims to help the launch of 25,000 new UK businesses in its first five years.

Minister highlights importance of Intellectual Property
31 January 2006
Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, Minister for Industry and the Regions, speaks at the British Library

Creative insights at the British Library January - March 2006
01 December 2005
Eminent names from science, business and the arts reveal secrets of the creative impulse at the British Library

London Search Facility of UK Patent Office moves to the British Library
31 August 2005
Search facilities to boost business and innovation hub.

A kick-start for start-ups
27 June 2005
A portfolio of services launched today by the British Library combine the Library's unrivalled business collections - including 600 online databases and 50 million patent records.

Unlocking the top 20,000 titles
01 June 2005
British Library launches new research resource
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and independent researchers are to benefit from a versatile new pay-as-you-go service launched today by the British Library. BRITISH LIBRARY DIRECT provides, for the first time, access to a fully searchable database of article titles from the top 20,000 international research journals. These records go back five years and currently number around nine million - with 150,000 new entries added each month.

British Library awarded £1m to support small businesses and entrepreneurs
11 May 2005
Trusted service secures London Development Agency funding to expand support for innovators, entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

Mothers of Invention Reveal All
24 January 2005
Three of the UK's leading business women will reveal the secrets of their success at the Mothers of Invention discussion and networking reception at The British Library on Wednesday 23 March.