Ben's Blog

Welcome to the new year...is the obvious way to start this first blog of 2023 i guess1 i didn't get to write one of these last year as our service was not even born yet here in Cumbria, it has been quite a year from when i started in February to where we are now at. A year that has proved what a strong team can be built in a short time when given the right resources and of course the right people to build it around.

The BIPC is a national network (Business and Intellectual Property Centres) based in the library service that provides free at the point of access advice to pre and post start-ups. We have a wealth of experience and knowledge on local, national and international levels that can help you make those steps in business. Whether that is how to take our kitchen table ideas to market, how to progress yourself as a sole trader to a limited company or if your next steps to world domination are held within some of our world leading databases and business research tools. Whatever your next steps we are here to help guide you through and signpost you to where the help and advice may be.

Since launching in the summer, we have had over 60 1:1 appointments on many varied topics from finding a premises to accessing funding, using market research tools to help writing a business plan (hint: it doesn't need to be super long and awkward anymore!) It has amazed me the variety of people through the door and the questions they pose. Thankfully we have already built a good track record for fielding these varied questions and I can not speak highly to start with our service is to book a 1:1 here but give our advisors as much information about what you are after so they can prepare the best answers for you when you meet either virtually or online. I always say if you are not sure if you need our help, you probably do! Here at BIPC Cumbria we would rather have the chat than not...because sometimes simply having a chat with someone can help push you forwards.