Gateshead’s local business community and budding entrepreneurs can now benefit from BIPC North East’s free business services.
Business & Intellectual Property Centre North East (BIPC) is delighted to announce an additional BIPC service offering located in Blaydon Library will be open & accessible to the local Gateshead business community from Thursday, 29 July, 2021.
The additional BIPC service will provide local businesses and anyone looking to set-up their own business in and around Gateshead with free access to onsite business databases and the latest market research information and resources. Customers will also have access to BIPC North East’s regional advice and support services, as well as find out more about other business support available in Gateshead.
BIPC North East was originally established in 2011 as BIPC Newcastle. This was the country’s first regional Business & IP Centre, outside of London, providing a service for the North East business community. Over the past 10 years, BIPC Newcastle has supported over 14,000 new-starts and growing businesses from across the region. During the last 12 months, BIPC Newcastle has played a key role in helping over 300 SMEs to safeguard around 600 jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Building upon the success of over the last 10 years and as part of the British Library’s national network expansion, BIPC Newcastle has recently rebranded as BIPC North East and is now extending this free information service offering within Blaydon Library, enabling to support both developing and existing businesses based in Gateshead.
Blaydon Library has its own dedicated area for business support and is equipped with a core set of resources, such as up to date market research and business information, enabling users to access for free the latest market research and trends, company data, and funding opportunities from a suite of online databases, including COBRA, Kompass and GRANTfinder. The BIPC North East team will be also on hand to offer local businesses initial information and guidance on intellectual property (IP) matters, as well as provide a sound understanding of the different types of IP protection available.
The services will be brought to life by a tailored and highly individual programme of events, workshops and one-to-ones, delivered in collaboration by local partners. BIPC North East has a team of over 30 Experts in Residence, who derive from a wide variety of business sectors. These Experts mainly come from small businesses themselves and provide a free one-to-one advice session on their specialist topic.
Councillor Malcolm Brain, Cabinet Member for the Economy at Gateshead Council said: “I am delighted that Blaydon Library is to be included in this initiative. Access to free facilitates and specialist support like this, right in the heart of local communities, goes a long way in helping Gateshead entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive.
This accessible support will be invaluable for small businesses and residents who want to look at other means of income as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s a welcome addition to the wonderful offer we already have at Blaydon Library.”
The BIPC service offering in Blaydon Library will be available to the local business community from Thursday 29 July, 2021. Opening days and times: Monday to Thursday 9.00am – 4.30pm. The new facility will also be open every Saturday 9.00am – 1.00pm.
For information on the BIPC offering at Blaydon Library click here
