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Back by popular demand - Dame Anita Roddick to share more insights at the British Library

Legendary entrepreneur announces 2007 programme of advice sessions at the British Library Business & IP Centre

THE BRITISH LIBRARY, 8 January, 2007 - Dame Anita Roddick has announced a second series of one-to-one 'Ask an Expert' sessions to take place at the British Library Business & IP Centre.

The new programme follows the massive success of the initial sessions, which ran through 2006, and allows budding entrepreneurs to benefit from one-to-one advice and inspiration from one of the most celebrated business icons of the past 30 years.

During each free half-day session Dame Anita will meet entrepreneurs and SMEs needing advice on launching social & ethical enterprises and creative areas such as marketing, new product development and media relations. Applications for the next six months are now open until January 31. For more details about how to apply, see: www.bl.uk/bipc

Announcing the second round of 'Ask an Expert' sessions, Dame Anita said: "I know from first-hand experience how scary but exciting it can be on the road to starting up your own business. I can't wait to meet people who are passionate about their new venture and overflowing with great ideas, but who need to bounce them off a seasoned entrepreneur."

She added: "Meeting entrepreneurs during that critical start-up phase has been genuinely inspiring and fulfilling for me because the focus for the people I have met has been on launching a variety of businesses that base their principles in ethical enterprise. In 2007 I aim to provide practical advice on specific areas of business development that will enable people to exploit their creative ideas and aid them in getting their ethical and social enterprises off the ground."

Among the young businesses to benefit from last year's sessions was eco-friendly product designer DIY KYOTO. Founder Richard Woods described Dame Anita as: "An inspirational speaker. Her ways of thinking and doing are highly relevant to any business trying to do something a little bit different to the rest of the crowd."

Heather Wilkinson of business coaching experts Striding Out found her session similarly inspiring: "My one-to-one with Anita Roddick gave me an insight into how a pioneering social entrepreneur really thinks! She highlighted the importance of connecting and learning from other entrepreneurs, and she advised me on the steps to take when planning for growth, including the options of franchising, pointing out the importance of finding the right partners to work with and not giving away anything for less!"

In addition to the 'Ask an Expert' sessions, the British Library Business & IP Centre runs a wide-ranging programme of workshops and networking events, the next of which is aimed explicitly at socially-conscious entrepreneurs in the Anita Roddick mould. 'Ethical Entrepreneurs: the Rise and Rise of Good Business', to be held on Monday January 22 (18.15-20.00), will bring together four of Britain 's most successful social and ethical entrepreneurs to take part in a panel discussion, Q&A and networking session. Tickets are priced £10 (£7.50 concessions) are limited to 255 and are available by phone +44 (0)20 7412 7222, email boxoffice@bl.uk or in person at the Information Desk of the British Library.

For further information please contact: Ben Sanderson at the British Library Press Office (telephone +44 (0)1937 546126, email: ben.sanderson@bl.uk) or Lawrence Christensen (telephone +44 (0)20 7412 7114, email: lawrence.christensen@bl.uk)

Notes to Editors

1. The British Library - is the national library of the United Kingdom. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library's website at www.bl.uk, which currently records almost 2 million 'hits' or visits per month. The London Development Agency awarded the British Library's Business & IP Centre £1 million in May 2005 to help transform it from a successful pilot project into a permanent national resource. Access to the Centre is free. Users need a Reader's Pass, for more information visit: www.bl.uk/bipc

2. Dame Anita Roddick - is the founder and a Non-Executive Director of The Body Shop and a Creative Consultant. She opened her first Body Shop store in Brighton in 1976. By 2004 the Body Shop had grown into an international business with almost 2,000 stores worldwide, serving over 77 million customers in 50 different markets and 25 different languages. She has become widely known as much for her campaigning on ethical issues as for her entrepreneurial abilities.

3. DIY KYOTO - is an award-winning eco-friendly product design company, see: www.diykyoto.com/

4. Striding Out is a support community for entrepreneurs based in Central London, providing members with a range of services to help them manage and grow their business ideas, from monthly networking events to one to one coaching. Striding Out promotes the importance of responsible and sustainable business practices to contribute to a healthy local economy and community. To find out more, visit www.stridingout.co.uk

5. The enhanced Business & IP Centre, launched last March, offers:

  • Impartial library information experts trained in the needs of SMEs and entrepreneurs to guide users to the full range of resources.
  • Workshops and clinics run by British Library and its business partners on subjects including: using intellectual property resources to check if ideas are novel, how to protect your ideas & designs, capitalising on market research resources, financing, marketing and selling skills, and pinpointing customers. Some of these workshops have a specific focus on supporting the needs of women, black and Asian minority ethnic groups, and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
  • Business partners supporting the Business & IP Centre include Business Link for London, Business Plan Services, Camden Business Forum, Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, Dynamic Asian Women's Network, Everywoman, ideas21, Innovation Central, Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, oneLondon, Own It, UK Patent Office.
  • A networking area for SMEs to meet and network with other SMEs, find out about the Library's full range of services and get inspiration from success stories about products and services conceived by other Centre users.
  • Wireless internet access (WiFi) so users can connect to the internet and access e-mail from the Centre by using the Library's own pay-as-you-go service.
  • Large-scale role model events - featuring successful entrepreneurs - to inspire, entertain and guide aspiring entrepreneurs on setting up and running a successful business and for SMEs to network. Previous examples include the sell-out 'Winners: the Rise and Rise of Black British Entrepreneurs', 'Desperately Seeking Finance', 'The Asian Advantage - Discover the Formula for Success', 'Hot Off the Press' and last November's 'Commerce With a Conscience' event.