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BUSINESS & IP CENTRES : A LIFELINE IN LIBRARIES
By Geraldine Fuller
The thrill of a first library card , a smiling lady stamping our newly borrowed books , the sheer joy of fairytales and adventure stories . Most of us have fond early memories of visits to our local library .
For many generations now , free access to books and other materials has given people a wealth of learning opportunities that can be both enriching and life changing .
There ’ s something intrinsically special about libraries being free and open to all . These safe , welcoming spaces allow anyone to work , read or simply think in peace .
The influence of libraries can never be underestimated . Every aspect of human progress from the industrial revolution through to modern day developments in medicine , manufacturing and technology has been made possible through the acquisition and sharing of knowledge .
More recently , libraries have become invaluable to entrepreneurs . Business & IP Centres ( BIPCs ) are becoming hotbeds of activity in libraries all over the UK . And across the Liverpool City Region BIPCs are proving to be a lifeline for thousands of people starting and growing a business .
As the name suggests , a Business & Intellectual Property Centre offers expertise around the protection of ideas . This might involve providing expert legal advice on patents , trademarks , or copyright matters . If you ’ re just starting out , you will need to be sure you are not breaking any laws . For example , it ’ s important to know you have the right to use the trading name , logo or domain name you have chosen . If a competitor already uses it or someone in a similar industry has it , you could get into difficulties . You might be opening a shop , bar , office or restaurant . You could be a writer , artist or composer or even the inventor of a world changing gadget . BIPCs can provide you with free professional advice to help you protect what ’ s yours and avoid infringement .
There ’ s also a wide range of other business services and resources available . We have a selection of powerful databases which contain vast amounts of up-to-the-minute industry information and market trends . If you ’ re writing a business plan and want to know
about trading conditions in a particular area or country the BIPC team will be able to help you with this research . You might want to know whether a specific market is growing and what you might be able to sell your product or service for . There are a lots of simple ‘ How To ’ guides for download which can give you vital know-how on anything from becoming a personal trainer , pub landlord to restaurant owner or holistic therapy practitioner . Or , you might be interested in doing a search on grants to find out what finance might be available to help you get started or grow .
In Liverpool Central Library the BIPC is located on the first floor . Every Thursday , Entrepreneur in Residence Clinics are run by successful business owner and former Lord Mayor Gary Millar FLJMU . He and his team of volunteer professional mentors provide free on-the-spot advice to anyone who drops by for a chat about their business .
BIPCs also offer a rich programme of online and physical events . Sessions focus on business topics including IP , cash flow , freelancing , marketing , sales and social media . There are also regular networking events which are designed to allow businesses of all sizes and stages to connect with each other , share ideas and be inspired . We cover practical , everyday business topics , but we also run some special high-profile events featuring some incredible speakers who have helped shape how people improve the way they do business .
Nearly 6000 businesses have received BIPC support over the last five years . There are now BIPC services available in libraries across Liverpool as well as Wirral , Knowsley , Halton , St Helens and Sefton . The BIPC teams are genuinely passionate about supporting our City Region ’ s talented entrepreneurs and committed to trying to help anyone whatever their background , stage or business sector .
To access help for your business email libraries . enquiries @ liverpool . gov . uk or call 0151 233 5825 .
Our events and latest news can be found on Twitter @ BIPC Liverpool and you can also find us on LinkedIn BIPC Liverpool .
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