British Library Logo

Kitchen Table Talks: adapting to the times with Julie Deane OBE

Join Julie and the BIPC to hear the ways the Cambridge Satchel Company are adapting to the times and how, with creativity, practicality and optimism, we can continue to move forward.

Have you found yourself spending more time than ever around your kitchen table? Maybe you’ve been collaborating with team members over video call, or swapping nights out with home-cooked meals? Luckily the kitchen table can be just the place where great ideas can be born. Take it from Julie Deane. Starting at her very own kitchen table with a budget of just £600, her company - the Cambridge Satchel Company - has become one of the UK’s greatest retail success stories. Julie now invites you back to her kitchen table to share her experiences and thoughts for the future to help your own business thrive.

Julie will cover how going back to basics doesn’t mean downgrading ambition and growth, but instead, helps create focus where it’s needed and opens doors you may have overlooked. She will discuss how gaining clarity on the business you need to be today can help you make your money and resources go further.

Speakers

Madeline McQueen

Your Confidence Coach

Julie Deane CBE

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

More Events

Circular Economy Panel: prosperity in a world of finite resources


Circular economy models regenerate resources across their lifecycle in order to mitigate the effects of climate change, which threaten our planet and its people. In addition to operational and strategic benefits to your business, it also maximises value creation in our economy, environment and societies.

In this panel discussion with Innovating for Growth alumni businesses: FRUU, Urban Cordial and Two Lives, moderated by Anna Triponel (Triponel Consulting), we will explore the practices and processes of circular economy businesses, so that you may be inspired to incorporate the same in yours.

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.

Purpose Driven Business – how to start and build a business with purpose


In support of the 15th anniversary of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and their annual Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) the Business & IP Centre will be hosting Purpose Driven Business, to celebrate the GEW 2022 theme of Grow With Purpose.

Our panel of speakers, representing a range of purpose-led businesses, will come together to share their expertise and business stories. They’ll question approaches from the past, challenge the status quo of today and discuss how all of these learnings can help build more resilient and focused businesses. We will discuss why having a ‘purpose’ is central to every start-up and how honing in on yours will help to drive growth and ensure your business thrives in the current climate.

About our panel:

Dr Liz Jackson MBE of BCMS is a motivational speaker and partially sighted business owner supporting the business communityJayni Gudka is the CEO of Unseen Tours, a provider of walking tours by formerly homeless guides who know the streets intimately and will show you the real LondonTasha Thompson is the founder Black Girls Do Run UK. Her business is changing the perception of running, and creating a safe space for black women in the health and fitness communityValerie Brandes of Jacaranda Books. Jacaranda books is a publishing company giving visibility for black and brown authorsModerated by Eni Timi Biu of Create Your Table

A guide to sustainable business with the British Library


When starting up and growing your business, it’s important to put your sustainable ideas, plans and best foot forward. Sticking to them for the long term will in turn give you a greater chance of success.

There are many challenges and opportunities to make your business truly sustainable from the get-go. Learn more about why your choices in economic, financial, environmental or social policies matter; and how these can influence your business model and practices.

The Business & IP Centre has access to a wealth of free practical information, insights and trends on these topics. We’ll also help you harness these to find your feet and direction.

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.

Michael Cashman

Speaker Position

Feedback

Ask Question