A new service based at a popular Leeds library offering a wide range of support and advice to small business owners and entrepreneurs has been officially launched.
The newly refurbished Business & IP Centre at Leeds Central Library, which is based right in the heart of the city centre, will provide a free and accessible service to anyone wishing to set up, protect and grow a successful business. Visitors to the centre will be able to access business databases and market research reports, trade journals, directories and a wealth of other information about starting up and running a business. There will also be a programme of free workshops and 1:1 advice sessions delivered by staff and business experts on a range of topics including starting up, business planning and marketing, as well as how intellectual property can protect products, brands and designs.
The Business & IP Centre Leeds has been developed in partnership with the British Library, which has helped over 350,000 entrepreneurs to date since opening their own Business & IP Centre in 2006.
Leeds is the second city to open its Business & IP Centre, following a successful pilot in Newcastle. Other centres are set to open in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield over the next year.
Speakers at the launch included Leeds City Council’s executive member for leisure and skills Cllr Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan, Dr Stephen Fear, entrepreneur in residence at The British Library and Frances Brindles, director of audiences at The British Library.
For more information and details regarding Leeds City Council’s Business & IP Centre Tel: (0113) 247 8266.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for leisure and skills said:
“It was fantastic to be at the launch of the new Business & IP Centre based at Leeds Central Library, which will provide a dynamic hub where small business owners and entrepreneurs in our city can access a wide range of important advice and support.
“This new centre will play an important role in both supporting and creating business growth in our city, and I would urge anyone who currently owns a small company or is thinking about starting a new venture to pop down to the Central Library and see what we have to offer.”
Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council said:
“It is great news to welcome the new Business & IP Centre to Leeds, which will provide the right environment in which entrepreneurs and small businesses can access the support they need on issues like intellectual property to prosper and thrive. It’s also good to have such a high quality example of the partnership between the city and the British Library, who play such an important economic role in Boston Spa.”
Isabel Oswell, head of business and research audiences at The British Library said:
“Our vision is that, by 2020, there will be a network of Business & IP Centres throughout the UK working together to offer the UK’s entrepreneurs a trusted place to access vital business and intellectual property information and advice.
“Today, with the opening of the Business & IP Centre in Leeds, we are one step closer to achieving this goal and are thrilled that budding businesses in West Yorkshire will be able to benefit from this fantastic new service.”
Dr Stephen Fear, entrepreneur in residence at The British Library said:
“As a city built on enterprise, Leeds has been the birth place of some of the most innovative business minds and it’s important that people understand the vital role libraries can play in the development of entrepreneurs and small businesses.
“The launch of the Business & IP Centre is a great opportunity for those in and around the city to take full advantage of its free resources and I’m sure it can help to inspire and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurial talent.”
