Libraries kick-starting the next generation of entrepreneurs

National Start-up Day, Thursday 21 September

The Business & IP Centre in Hull will launch Start-up Day as part of a national drive to celebrate the region’s next generation of entrepreneurs. The day will be jam packed with free workshops, talks and events at the library to equip budding business owners with the tools to turn their start-up dreams into reality.

In the last year alone Business & IP Centre Hull has supported over 200 people to set up and grow new businesses. The Centre aims to support entrepreneurs from all walks of life and has boosted support to start-ups and small business owners over the last year. Many of these businesses were led by groups which are traditionally under-represented in the business world: this year 30 per cent of businesses established were owned by women and 15 per cent by people from black and Asian minority ethnic backgrounds.

The British Library Business & IP Centre and the National Network of Centres, will open their doors to over 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs keen to hear from a stellar line-up of seasoned business experts who’ll be sharing their know-how and insider tips. Names behind some of Britain’s biggest brands will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Speakers from Virgin StartUp and Google Digital Garage who will be on hand to advise aspiring entrepreneurs on issues surrounding funding and maximising their online impact in today’s digital age. Practical workshops will arm attendees on how to protect their idea, write a business plan, develop a marketing strategy and research the market using the libraries’ up-to-the-minute intellectual property and business databases.

At Hull Central Library, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights about how to effectively run a socially responsible business or social enterprise on Thursday 21 September. Two workshops will take place between 12noon – 3.30pm and 3.45 – 7.30pm. There will be a keynote speech ‘Turn Your Passion into Profit’ by Robert Ashton the ‘Barefoot Entrepreneur’, publisher, campaigner and author of “Can I Make Money and Still Make a Difference?”

The experienced panel discussion line-up includes:
• Adrian Fisher, Co-Founder and Operations Director of Rooted in Hull, a city centre farm, using shipping containers, a unique innovative idea working with local organisations.
• Diane Hinds from The Entertainment Bureau – PR, speaker and film producer, Diane has worked with international talent such as Aretha Franklin, opera singer Lesley Garrett, CBE, Whitney Houston, and many others.
• Ian Bourne from Making a Difference – Ian set up social enterprise to communicate the issues around hate crime and living with a disability. He will discuss engaging with people to help develop an understanding of the physical and social barriers that some people live with.
• John Olivant, business author, local business entrepreneur, mentor and business coach, John is currently Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in East Yorkshire.
• Terry King, appeared on BBC breakfast TV as part of the Brexit panel discussing the impact on business.
Passionate about giving something back to society, she co-founded Chapter 3 Enterprise, a community interest company, in 2014, supporting mature individuals across the North of England into business.

The workshops are free; however places must be booked online at: https://bit.ly/bipchullevents

Isabel Oswell, Head of Business & Research Audiences at the British Library, said “Following the success of our inaugural Start-up Day last year, we’re delighted to launch another inspiring and informative day of events in city libraries across the country with some of the industry’s key ‘movers and shakers’. For those people out there who have a business idea but aren’t sure what steps to take next, Start-up Day is a great place to begin.”

The initiative also has the backing of Margot James, Small Business Minister, who’ll be delivering a keynote address as part of the programme, said: “We want to make sure Britain is the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and initiatives like the British Library’s Start-up Day help make this happen. This is an exciting time in the UK to build a business and it is particularly pleasing to see ever more women and people from ethnic minority backgrounds gaining the confidence, skills and know-how to turn their ideas into successful businesses.”

Councillor Terry Geraghty, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure and Chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “If you have ever wanted to make a difference to your community or the environment then The Business & IP Centre Hull, not for profit company ‘Chapter 3’ and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) are working together to give you the support and help that you need.
“Starting on National Start-up day Thursday 21 September 2017 and running through to Global Entrepreneurship Week 13 – 18 November 2017 there will be a series of workshops and events to help you on your journey to make a difference. In addition, there will be a competition with prizes totaling more than £5, 000.”

Research indicates that businesses who start up a business with the support of the Business & IP Centre network have a far greater chance of being successful. Currently in the UK over 60 per cent of businesses fail within the first three years of trading, but a recent independent evaluation has showed that 90 per cent of businesses that started up with the help of the Centre were still trading after year three.

Ronan Harris, Google UK&I Managing Director, said: “In the digital age, a basic understanding of how the online world works is useful; and when it comes to new business, it’s essential. We are delighted to collaborate with the British Library and bring our Google Digital Garage experts to 11 locations to ensure every entrepreneur has the digital skills needed to grow their business or launch the next big idea.”

Andrew Hutchison, Head of Strategy, Virgin StartUp, said: “Virgin StartUp has now supported over 1,900 entrepreneurs across the UK, we’ve experienced firsthand the levels or work and commitment startups have to put into their business during their infancy years. We’re proud to be one of the startup community voices supporting the British Library with this event, the agenda is crammed with everything we know a startup will need. I’m delighted we’ve got several of our inspirational Virgin StartUp entrepreneurs down to tell their story and share their lessons.”