Free start-up business help - guidance, planning, IP, research and support

Are you thinking of starting a business or becoming self-employed? Would you like to know what resources are available to help get your business idea off the ground or help grow your business?

Let us assist you in finding the answers to your business questions in our FREE 45 minute one-to-one sessions with our Business Information Specialist. These sessions give you the opportunity to ask questions, learn about our resources and find out about upcoming events.

During these 1-to1s, we can help you by providing:

• guidance for those first key steps
• outline how to build a business plan and give you some tools to start one
• show you how to use our specialist online business resources covering market research, funding support and intellectual property (IP) guidance.
• help you to understand and protect the intellectual property you have in your business
• highlight and signpost you to further business support from BIPC and our partners that is available to you.

Please note that we are not able to give legal or specialist advice, but we will talk you through the sort of information you may find useful and help you get the most out of the Business & IP Centre library resources.

This appointment is with a member of our BIPC team at Southmead Library. Your session will last for about 45 minutes. Sessions are available on multiple dates and multiple times.

We can offer one-to-one sessions by Zoom if you prefer, please book your time slot here on Eventbrite and email [email protected] to ask for your appointment to be held over Zoom.

In order to provide the best support for you and your business ideas, we will be in contact with you by email before your appointment to find out a bit more about your small business.

Following the meeting, the Business & IP Centre will send you a link to a feedback form that helps us monitor and improve our events.

These sessions are available for people who either live or work in the Bristol area including Bath and North Somerset. We are here to support anyone in the Bristol area with a business idea or small-medium sized business. Not your region? Find your local BIPC to find out how they can help you: https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/national-network

Helping you to start and grow your small business with free resources, 1:1 support, advice clinics & workshops

The Business & IP Centre Bristol supports people to start, protect and grow their businesses. Visit Junction 3 Library or Bristol Central Library to access our free market research and intellectual property databases and take part in our regular programme of workshops and events.

After you have attended one of our events we ask that you complete a short feedback form. We will use the information you provide to improve the services we offer in line with our legitimate interests. This information is collected and transferred to us by our third-party processor, Impact Reporting using their Impact Assessment Tool. Impact Reporting will retain your data to save time when completing any future feedback forms we may send you. For more information about how they use personal information, please see their privacy policy online at https://impactreporting.co.uk/legal/privacy-policy/

For information about how the British Library will use your personal data, you can view our Privacy Policy at https://www.bl.uk/about-us/privacy-policy

For information about how Business & IP Centre Bristol will use your personal data, you can view our privacy policy at: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/about-our-website/privacy

What is your refund policy?

Our events are free, but places are limited and events are usually oversubscribed. Please give two working days’ notice via email if you wish to cancel.

Can I attend if I'm not a member of the library?

Absolutely! Any Bristol based business or person with a business idea is welcome. Though we always recommend joining the library as it's free and will make accessing our databases, books and publications much easier.

How can I find out about any news & upcoming events?

Follow us on Eventbrite and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and events. For more information on BIPC Bristol check out our web pages: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/BIPC

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Southmead Library, Southmead House, 256 Greystoke Avenue, Bristol, United Kingdom