Bridlington Central Library is excited to announce its new, monthly Business Research and Networking afternoon, which will take place in the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) area of the library, on the first Thursday of each month, at 2pm.
The first meeting was on Thursday, 1 September.
This new informal network allows local business people, those who support them and other community partners, to come together, make connections, talk about new business opportunities and events and explore the business research databases available in the library.
Attendees can just turn up – and if they would like to be added to the email list, to receive emails about networking sessions, webinars, databases, etc, can email librarian Sarah Hutchinson on: sarah.hutchinson@eastriding.gov.uk
The new afternoon sessions take place in the BIPC area of the library, launched late last year following a pledge of £13 million in Treasury funding for The British Library Business & IP Centre Major Expansion of its highly successful network of library based BIPCs from 14 to over 100 regional and local libraries across England.
The BIPC at Bridlington Central Library offers free access to a network offering access to millions of pounds’ worth of business and intellectual property information and provides business events, workshops, one-to-one expertise and the space to research, develop and grow in a trusted and accepting space.
There is support for the very first steps in business planning and research, and a chance to work hand in hand with the long-established East Riding Business Support Team, who offer expert business advice for more established ideas.Business & IP Centres can open up the path to entrepreneurship for anyone with a business idea, regardless of their background. Consistently, over half of those who use a BIPC to set up a business are women and a third are from under-represented ethnic backgrounds.
Councillor Mike Medini, portfolio holder for culture, leisure, libraries and customer services, said : “I am delighted that Bridlington Central Library is able to host these new Business Research and Networking sessions, which could open the door to all kinds of new businesses and new ideas in the local area.”
Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for economic growth and tourism, added: “The new Business & IP Centres in our East Riding libraries have already made a real difference to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the East Riding, and are a real gamechanger. This new regular session in Bridlington can only be great news for the local business community, and I hope it will go from strength to strength.”
