British Library Logo

From Start-up to Household Brand (with Q&A)


    Part of Start-up Day 2024

    Starting a business can be a roller-coaster journey. In this session you'll find out how to build a successful and sustainable brand from your kitchen table. Martha Keith, British Library BIPC Business Ambassador and founder of the Martha Brook stationery brand, will host a fireside chat with Charlie Bigham, founder of the eponymous food brand to delve into his story of building the fastest growing grocery brand in the UK. Together they'll shed light on the grit behind the glamour of entrepreneurship and arm you with all the facts you need to decide whether starting a business is right for you. You’ll also come away with the key strategies that can help you to stay focused on creating work that you love that fits in with your life goals and aligns with your purpose.

Speakers

Martha Keith

Founder and CEO

Charlie Bigham

Founder, Charlie Bigham's

More Events

Getting started with the latest trends in the UK market

At the moment there are, of course, huge doubts about what the future holds. But that doesn’t stop us being able to assess the current business market to explore new trends and behaviours - insights that could help your business flourish, even in the most uncertain of times.

Mintel is the world's leading market intelligence agency. Our guest presenter, Jack Duckett, Mintel’s Consumer Lifestyles Analyst, will distil the biggest trends, especially in today’s changing climate. In these recent times, Mintel has been helping their clients understand the impact of COVID-19 on their markets. Tune in on Start-up Day to hear about the effects on consumer behaviours and how key markets will fare over the next few years, including food and drink, beauty, leisure and more.

The Mintel sector reports can be accessed for free in our National Network of Business & IP Centres, based in libraries around the UK. Before you start exploring the databases yourself, this is your guide to figuring out what the stats actually say.

Understanding these trends gives valuable insights for new businesses looking to stay relevant in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace. Don’t start your business without this insider guide to understanding and capitalising on the key UK business trends today.

Getting started with the right mentor

Starting your new business can feel lonely; but help is out there.

Help in finding a mentor is one of the most common queries we get at the Business & IP Centre, but how can you optimise your time with a mentor? How would you make sure you’re asking the right questions? And how do you know who you can trust?

In this session, advisors from the National Business Support Helpline will outline some of the funded schemes and initiatives which could give you the help you need right now and ensure you’re getting the right mentorship for you.

This session will help you:

determine exactly what knowledge and advice you need from a mentorlearn tips and techniques for how to succinctly convey your questions and get the most from your mentor.

We’ll also hear from founder of fashion brand The Cambridge Satchel Company, Julie Deane OBE, about the times she’s sought out help and how as a result, it’s changed the direction of her business.

At the end of this session, following both Julie’s and National Business Support Helpline’s advice, you’ll feel confident in knowing how to use external advisors to move your start-up forward.

How to align passion, purpose and profit when starting a business

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.

During this session, we will explore ways to identify and develop the basic skills needed to start a successful business, including passion, leadership skills, understanding your competitors, and much more. The aim of exploring these fundamentals is to give your business a firm foundation to develop, grow and thrive.

During the workshop we will discuss:
How to identify your passionHow to discover what’s purposeful and meaningful to you personallyHow to draw attention to your values, principles and mission in lifeHow to explore the real reason why you want to start a businessHow to discover what it takes to make it happenAnd finally, how to show up authentically, unapologetically and on purpose.

How to get your head around the numbers


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.

Understanding your numbers is crucial in building a financially fit business and knowing the fundamentals will allow you to make the most informed start-up financial decisions.

In this session we will try to demystify and simplify the notions of cost, cash flow and profit, and help you understand how they affect your business and why they are important in your decision-making process.

Getting started with your side hustle

Going in to business might feel like a leap into the unknown, but with a side hustle you can minimise the risk.

Earning through a side hustle helps you earn extra an income while keeping paid employment and helps to maintain the cash flow as the new business establishes itself. With digital communities and marketplaces helping to fast track the route to market and allowing entrepreneurs to tap into a wider breadth of customers than ever before, more and more people are choosing to start side hustles, and seeing them grow.

Vicki Broadbent has grown her blog, The Honest Mum, from a hobby and passion to her full-time commercial income. She is also the author of Mum Boss, which examines the opportunities you can unearth by unlocking spare time, often, while at home with a family.

This session will explore the skills and support you will need to put your plans into action after Start-up Day, as well as practical tips on keeping up a side hustle while working the 9 to 5. If you have entrepreneurial ambition and a skill that can be monetised, join us and Vicki to hear about whether a side hustle start-up is the right option for you.

Michael Cashman

Speaker Position

Feedback

Ask Question