British Library joins with over 40 libraries to help budding entrepreneurs for Start-up Day 2019

Last week, on Start-Up Day 2019, over 40 public libraries across the UK are opening their doors to aspiring entrepreneurs in a unique day-long programme dedicated to supporting start-ups and small business owners. The annual UK-wide event, led by the British Library’s Business & IP Centre and generously supported by Santander UK, invites people to visit their local library and take the first steps towards turning their brilliant idea into a successful enterprise.

New figures recently released by the British Library reveal that its national network of library-based Business & IP Centres has helped create an average of 15 new businesses every working day since 2016. Most of these were started at home, with 40% of them beginning in a home office and almost a third from the kitchen table. These new businesses are far exceeding national success rates, with 90% still trading after three years, compared to the UK average of 60%. Start-up Day is a UK-wide invitation for anyone with a kitchen table idea or side-hustle to discover how their local library can help them launch, protect and successfully grow their business through access to information, confidential one-to-one support, workshops, networking with like-minded entrepreneurs and inspiring talks live-screened from the British Library. For budding entrepreneurs, this could be the perfect opportunity to start networking and understanding ways to establish as well as grow their business both locally and on a bigger level. Ideas discussed, strategies planned, and connections made during this thriving event could serve entrepreneurs for a long time, giving them a much needed boost. Soon, there could be a number of new businesses reaching out to a local seo agency to get started on the digital journey and create a strong business presence on all fronts.

Start-Up Day 2019 sees a record number of UK libraries joining together to support local entrepreneurs, with the total number taking part more than double that of 2018. Alongside the British Library’s Business & IP Centre and its 13 national network partners, two new pilot Centres in Brighton and Worcester will take part, as well as libraries in towns such as Blackpool, Bolton, Barnstaple, Great Yarmouth, Preston and Thetford. In addition, libraries across 10 London boroughs will launch their own Start-Up Day events to engage with as many Londoners as possible. Events include the UK’s biggest nationwide coffee morning for entrepreneurs and live-screenings of selected events from the British Library’s programme.