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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 mentor
  • learn 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.

Speakers

Paul Kirtley

Business Advisor

Julie Deane CBE

Founder & CEO Cambridge Satchel Company and Entrepreneur in Residence British Library

More Events

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: High street heroes


High streets are the beating heart of our local communities. Having a presence on the high street gives businesses a unique opportunity to connect with their customers, and the responsibility to meet their needs as these change and evolve. What additional service could you offer to those who interact with your brand in person? What extra impact could you generate by sharing your spaces with neighbours and fellow makers?

We have brought together a panel of three loved and respected local businesses, our high street heroes. Their founders will share practical tips through their inspiring stories and tell us more about their individual journeys.

Mary Otumahana, award-winning musician and founder of The RecordShop; a grassroots independent organisation based in Wood Green, that focuses on making an impact with a multipurpose music space located on the high street. By providing access to a recording studio and music career training, Mary is leading a mission to educate, inform and inspire inner-city youths to connect to their community through music.Hellen Stirling-Baker, founder of children’s store, Small Stuff, has led her business from an experimental pop-up shop to a successful, eco-friendly bricks and clicks model at the heart of her high street in Crookes, Sheffield. A perfect example that being a small shop doesn’t mean you can’t have big values; Hellen is a local leader who champions ethical suppliers and supports other retailers, often sharing her shop for community-building events. Hellen is the deserved winner of this year’s High Street Hero for the Small Awards 2022.Carolynn Bain, founder of Afori Books, the first Black-owned bookshop in Brighton. Carolynn almost did the opposite of most during the pandemic; inspired to stock only Black authors in response to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, she started her business as an online shop. Demand was so high however, that Afrori Books was approached to open a physical bookshop in Lighthouse, a local Arts-based charity, with fit-out costs successfully crowdfunded.

We are running this event with the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) who are also champions of high street businesses and are here to help, all year round.

How to run a successful crowdfunding campaign (and raise £32,000)

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.

As people look for less traditional routes to finance, crowdfunding campaigns are becoming more and more popular. During this masterclass, we will hear from a start-up business, Bottle Farm, who, earlier this year, used a crowdfunding platform to successfully raise £32,000 for their innovative indoor farm and garden kits.

They will be interviewed by our Start-ups in London Libraries SME Champion for Southwark, Dean Williams, who will discuss with them what they did to achieve this success, their top tips for any other start-up business thinking of obtaining funds this way, and what they would have done differently.

Dean will also share this 5 top tips to ensure you have the best chance of raising funds, especially in this current climate.

Santander - The Business of Sustainability


Sustainability is no longer just a requirement for businesses; building a business that is more sustainable for its people, its investors, and our planet presents a huge opportunity.

Rather than treat sustainability as an afterthought or as a boost to brand image, our panellists will discuss how they have infused sustainability into their core businesses model from day one and share the inexpensive methods they used to help you do the same.

The session will be moderated by Lynne Robertson – Enterprise Education Lead and Sustainability Business Partner for Santander Business Banking.

Followed by Santander key note - Susan Davis

Introduction to intellectual property 2021


An understanding of intellectual property and its protection is vital for anyone with an idea, whether it is an invention, a brand name or a song. Knowing how to protect your idea can save you a lot of time and money. This online webinar will introduce the six areas of intellectual property and help you understand which may apply to you and your business.

The main areas are:PatentsTrade marksRegistered designsCopyrightTrade secrets

How to understand sustainability trends in the UK right now


Ever popular on Start-up Day, we’re happy to welcome back global market researchers Mintel to share the inside track on emerging trends affecting your business ideas right now.

We’ll cut through all the jargon and data to bring you all the big headlines trending in key sectors and, of course, in sustainable living.

Richard Cope is a Senior Trends Consultant at Mintel and author of its Sustainability Barometer. In his presentation he will share some of the most up to date trends data that will focus on how do you sell sustainability to consumers.

Some of the main sections covered will be:
The sustainability drivers of consumer buying behaviours
How to learn from the best brands
The latest news on emissions, measuring carbon footprints and waste reduction
Power of using the right language in describing your sustainable practices and priorities
How sustainability in the UK compares across the world.

You can access Mintel data in Business & IP Centres across the country. Our expert staff are there to help you pick out and understand the stories such as these behind the stats, and inform some really key decisions as you build your business. Visit bl.uk/business to find your nearest Centre

Michael Cashman

Speaker Position

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