Entrepreneurs and small businesses are set to benefit from a unique new service designed to enable people to protect, research and commercialise their ideas.

The new Business & Intellectual Property (IP) Centre, currently in development in Glasgow’s Mitchell Library is one of fourteen centres across the UK. It is modelled on the successful British Library Business & IP Centre in London and, in partnership with the National Library of Scotland and the UK Intellectual Property Office, will allow entrepreneurs to take advantage of free intellectual property and business information and expertise.

The Centre, which will be the first of its kind in Scotland when it officially launches in 2019, will be housed in one of Glasgow’s most famous landmarks. Founded in 1877, The Mitchell Library is now the hub of a city-wide information service, and is home to Glasgow’s archives and treasured special collections.

The Mitchell Library’s new Business and IP Centre will build on the successful Business at The Mitchell service, which supported more than 800 individuals and businesses over the previous 12 month period.

Entrepreneurs and small businesses are invited along to the library on Thursday 20th September to find out more and take part in activities as part of the Business & IP Centre National Start-up Day, a campaign delivered for start-ups and entrepreneurs in libraries across the UK.

This is the biggest ever coordinated Start-up Day on 20 September, taking place across the British Library Business & IP Centre National Network and other city libraries across the UK, inviting everyone with a brilliant idea to visit their local library and take their first steps to turning that idea into a viable business.

A day of practical workshops and talks will inform attendees about how to protect their ideas, write a business plan, manage social media and pitch for investment. Start-up Day is open to all with ambitions to start up a business across the country, from the British Library in London and libraries in Barnstaple, Birmingham, Cambridge, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, King’s Lynn, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Norwich, Thetford, Sheffield and Worcester.

The Glasgow Business & IP Centre’s Start-up Day will feature workshops including A Beginner’s Guide to Intellectual Property, one to one sessions with experts and a speed mentoring event.

Councillor David McDonald, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, said: 

Start-up Day offers entrepreneurial Glasgow residents the opportunity to explore their potential and launch their dream business. This year, The Mitchell Library alongside our network of expert partners including Santander, Google and National Library of Scotland, will be offering an innovative programme of events to support anyone wishing to start a new business in Glasgow.

Glasgow is one of the most exciting city’s in the UK to start and grow a business and I am delighted that in addition to The Mitchell Library’s free programme of Start-up Day activities, Glasgow will become the first Scottish city to join the British Library’s UK-wide Business & IP National Network, enabling us to support everyone in the city who has a great business idea.

Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library said:  

Start-up Day has become an unmissable event for aspiring business owners around the UK. This year I am particularly pleased to welcome Cambridge, Nottingham and Glasgow to our Business & IP Centre National Network. The British Library has a mission to help business to innovate and grow, both at St Pancras and across the UK – that means making sure everyone with a great business idea knows that they are welcome here.

Start-up Day 2018 is a collaboration between the British Library Business & IP Centre National Network and Santander.

Santander Business Managing Director Sue Douthwaite, said:

Our collaboration with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre Start-up Day helps further our work with SMEs and start-ups. This initiative places us at the heart of the community, offering truly accessible banking expertise to SMEs and start-ups. It builds on the substantial work we have done with small businesses, and positions us at the forefront of efforts to help people and businesses in the UK prosper.