The Road to Renewal:
Preparing entrepreneurs and SMEs for the next normal

This October, the British Library, supported by DCMS and the Treasury, launched the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) national Reset. Restart service to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to rebound from the Covid-19 crisis, adapt and build flexible business models and be prepared for the next normal. Alongside this, we are continuing to support people to start up and run robust businesses in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. People who start their business with us are four times more likely to succeed in building a viable business; 90% are still trading after three years, compared with an average of 50%.

Reset. Restart and the Business & IP Centre expansion form a key part of Living Knowledge: For Everyone, the British Library’s refreshed strategy to support economic, social and cultural renewal in the face of the pandemic’s extraordinary impact.

On 10 November from 11:00 – 12:00 we will be hosting a special virtual event to mark the launch of Reset. Restart.

We will be joined by the Minister for Digital & Culture, Caroline Dinenage MP, who will make the opening remarks followed by a live panel and Q&A session moderated by Alison Cork, recently announced BIPC Ambassador.

Speakers

Dame Carol Black

Chair of the British Library Board

Roly Keating

Chief Executive of the British Library

Caroline Dinenage MP

Minister for Digital and Culture

Alison Cork

Chair - Founder of Make It Your Business, entrepreneur

Sonali Parekh

Director of Policy for the Federation of Small Businesses

Nick Partridge

Head of Libraries, Archives and Information Services, Sheffield City Council

Philip Salter

Founder of The Entrepreneurs Network

Siobhan Thomas

Founder of What’s Your Skirt

Map

More Events

BIPC North East: Developing a sustainable/green brand

This session is perfect for start-ups who need to develop and communicate green credentials and sustainability effectively.

Andy will detail how businesses can develop and use green credentials. He'll present ideas around how to embed green thinking into your organisation's core idea, as well as providing general tips on how to communicate green credentials through marketing and communication material. He'll also share examples from other organisations that are leading with sustainability.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to communicate green credentials to create a competitive advantage.

BIPC Cambridgeshire & Peterborough -
Getting real with sustainability

Starting a business requires single-minded belief and commitment to your vision. It might be too big a challenge or too great a diversion to be wholly emissions-free and sustainable from the start, but doing one thing, something, from that start, can truly make a difference over time.

In this discussion, Julie Deane CBE, founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company and Professor Bhaskar Vira, MA MPhil PhD, a leading expert in environmental economics at the University of Cambridge, will explore the many ways small businesses can learn from other countries leading the way in improving their resource efficiency.

Join us and hear how getting real with what is achievable at the start of your business is still doing something amazing.

How to write your value proposition

London libraries are transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses. By partnering with ten London boroughs, we are developing a community of new and existing business owners, which is free to join and open to everyone. Whether you are just setting out, need advice on protecting your intellectual property, or simply have a brilliant idea you want to discuss, we're here to guide you. Since April 2020, we have offered all of our Start-ups in London Libraries' services online, including our core workshops and virtual one-to-ones with our borough Business Champions, many of whom will be hosting sessions during Start-up Day. To find out more about Start-ups in London Libraries and how to join our thriving business community, visit bl.uk/SiLL.

Value propositions are incredibly valuable pieces of content, which allow you to communicate what your business is offering succinctly, and which can be used across marketing materials and pitches in the start-up stage of your business. Sarah Eschner, our SME Champion for Waltham Forest from the Start-ups in London Libraries programme will host this session where we will review how to incorporate all the important elements of your value proposition using a simple step-by-step process.

This masterclass will cover:
The purpose of a value propositionTools associated with a value proposition (value proposition canvas, business model canvas, profit model)The principles of a value propositionConcept of the ‘Core motivating value’An example scenario for how to write the statement.

Sources: Founders Institute, and L. Newey University of Queensland

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: She's In CTRL by Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE

This event is taking place at the British Library and will be live streamed.

For those joining us in person, the event will be following by a networking reception with drinks, canapés, where you can meet other attendees, as well as the speakers. There will also be the opportunity to enter a prize draw.

For those joining us online, the panel and talk will run from 18.00 – 20.00.

The tech industry has a leading figure in Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, who is a dynamic advocate for women in STEM and a champion of STEM in education.

This special event shows how her latest book, She’s In CTRL, is a guidebook for women to take back tech and to shine a light on the women in STEM daring to dream. It will empower readers make changes to the way tech can be improved, but how to get into the room where the decisions are made and create our own tech rooms.

Join us for an inspirational evening with innovators within technology speaking on a panel about the important role of women and diversity in STEM sectors. This panel talk is followed by an enlightening fireside chat with Anne-Marie to discuss her new book and share the stories of other pioneers and innovators who have, against the odds, transformed technology.

Also up for discussion will be a range of topics that will help you to:
Understand the reality of starting as a female in the STEM industry and the challenges of getting started
Learn how women in the tech industry are creating their own seat at the table or ‘tech rooms’ and what steps they took to do this
Learn which aspects of STEM are mostly inspiring and recruiting women today
Learn about which innovations our panel have seen arise since the pandemic that were specifically that were created by women and why they think these have arisen
Hear about new trends within the industry that are evolving and the areas that still need more women involved
Understand the growth in interest in tech amongst women globally, including across Africa and Asia
Learn about the future of tech/STEM with the rise of AI, VR and 3D printing

Photo credit Sam and Sam Photography 2022

Community as a service: a model for enhancing sustainability in business

This talk looks at the need to connect with community and other business owners during difficult times. When things became challenging, the panel had to quickly learn to lean on their communities. This helped them build a network to sustain their businesses, but also share knowledge, skills and experience with their peers.

Each of the three speakers on this panel has a compelling story about how their community helped them pivot and build resilience through a network. Find out how communities generate value and how to build your own community-as-a-service network, whether you’re just starting or looking to grow your business's activity.

The Road to Renewal: Preparing entrepreneurs and SMEs for the next normal