

Business & IP Centre Nottinghamshire
We provide free business support to start-up business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors across Nottinghamshire and neighbouring areas. Whether you are just starting out, need advice on protecting your intellectual property, or are ready to take the next step in your business journey, we are here to help.
Business & IP Centre Nottinghamshire (BIPC) is part of the BIPC National Network, led by the British Library. Visit us at BIPC locals in selected libraries or engage with us online.
What’s On: events & one-to-ones
Looking for Business Advice?
Sometimes all it takes is a conversation to be pointed in the right direction and have your confidence boosted.
To see how the BIPC can help you and your business see our Introduction webinar to review our service, or speak with an Advisor at one of the following locations:
Resources
Discover and access the wealth of free resources, databases, and information we have on offer to help you start-up and run your business.
Got a library card? Some of these databases can be accessed from home with your library card, whilst others are available through your local Business & IP Centres in the libraries.
Expert Help
At the Business & IP Centre, we are delighted to work alongside and collaborate with a range of business experts and delivery partners who support the local businesses across Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands in our programme.
But the support doesn’t stop there. By connecting with the Business & IP Centre, we can help you access and navigate a vast network of valuable business support, including national, regional, and local initiatives.
Smorgasbord: Smorgasbord can help you start or grow your business. They are Start-Up Loan agents and can help with funding for ideas and new business ventures, as well as giving you context of the larger funding landscape. They are key delivery partners in our Fit for Business programme, providing regular webinars and weekly one-to-ones so you can get advice for your next steps.
D2N2 Growth Hub: D2N2 Growth Hub supports business growth across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Meet with Account Manager, Sheridan Chilvers, one of the Nottingham city D2N2 Growth Hub Account Managers, who can help you navigate your current business challenges and opportunities by directing you to partners who can provide specialist support covering sector reports, IP guidance, funding, marketing, recruitment, international trade, digital infrastructure and much more.
Potter Clarkson: If you need help finding out or need support with a specific intellectual property challenge, sign up for a one-to-one with a Potter Clarkson solicitor or attorney.
Potter Clarkson is a firm of intellectual property specialists based in Nottingham City centre, able to advise on patents, trademarks, copyright, how to protect your ideas and how to stop someone else using them. Our IP Clinics run twice a month.
Rogers Spencer: Accounting and financial advice is provided by the team at Rogers Spencer in monthly webinars and one-to-ones.
Rogers Spencer is a highly regarded Nottingham based Independent Accountancy Practice. Their team of 30 staff provide a full range of accountancy services for small and medium sized enterprises in and around Nottingham. They have dedicated accounting, payroll, tax and bookkeeping teams who can offer all the accountancy related support a growing business needs.
Summit Creative: Summit Creative are a Nottinghamshire-born creative agency that helps businesses achieve brand consistency by providing innovative and practical solutions for your design, print and online presence.
Their expert team provides the solutions and support required to ensure your brand resonates with your target audience. From your tone of voice and the unique story behind your brand, the way it translates across printed collateral & promotional items to how your website looks and feels; Summit Creative protects your brand and guarantees consistency.
Swap Shop: Now covering the whole of the UK, this free online platform gives you the opportunity to find a swap and build connections with businesses locally or nationally. Whether it’s social media, accounting, translation, funding bids or press releases that you need help with, Swap Shop can help you find someone to swap with.
The Big House Programme: The Big House Programme supports creative and digital businesses across Nottingham and Derby. It is delivered by a number of local partners including Creative Quarter, NBV, Nottingham Art Exchange and NTU
Creative Quarter: Creative Quarter is based in Sneinton Market and encourages the growth of Nottingham’s creative and digital economy by supporting people to start and grow creative and digital businesses.#
Trading Standards Commercial Services offers a free 30 minutes initial consultation to Nottinghamshire businesses. Our team of experienced Trading Standards Officers can help you identify the relevant Trading Standards requirements and prioritise what you need to do to achieve compliance and protect your business.
East Midlands Chamber: Business organisation covering the East Midlands and providing information, support and training.
Federation of Small Businesses – East Midlands: The FSB is a membership organisation providing advice, financial expertise and support for small businesses and a regular programme of events across the region.
First Enterprise: Provides business support, advice, business loans and new start finance to start ups and SMEs across the East Midlands.
Food and Drink Forum: Supports food and drink manufacturing businesses across the East Midlands with a range of training and events, funding and technical support as well as lease of food grade facilities in Nottingham and Leicester.
University of Nottingham Business Network: Offers events and networking to businesses interested in connecting with the university and a directory of local businesses.
Small Business Advice Line: The University of Law offers a virtual Legal Advice Clinic for Small Businesses, which provides start-up businesses with a free 30 minute appointment to speak to a Commercial Solicitor in relation to their query. You will be contacted by a clinic student who will confirm with you the advice sought and your appointment date/time. Email: sbal@law.ac.uk
The My Way Project: A toolkit and programme developed by the University of Nottingham and local entrepreneurs to help women feel confident about their way of being an entrepreneur.
NBV: NBV supports business start ups through start-up workshops, one to one advice, provision of office space, start-up loans, training and events.
Nottingham Insight: Nottingham Insight provides access to information, data and original research about what it’s like to live in Nottingham, and is curated and maintained by Nottingham City Council.
Nottingham Markets: Information about trading on Nottingham’s markets.
Prince’s Trust: The Prince’s Trust runs an Enterprise programme supporting young people aged 18-30 in exploring self employment and gaining the tools and knowledge to run a successful business.
NTU Enterprise: Nottingham Trent University Enterprise is primarily for NTU students and alumni but will support anyone with a viable business idea through mentoring and training programmes.
Companies House: Information for starting up and registering your business.
HMRC: HMRC gives information on registering your business information for tax and national insurance purposes.
Intellectual Property Office The IPO supports you with identifying and protecting your intellectual property and gives guidance to ensure that you are not in breach existing rights.
Nottingham City Council Business Support Information for businesses within Nottingham City area on licencing, business rates, grants and more.
BIPC Local Centres
Visit us at our sites, where you can get:
- free access to market research and data to understand your market
- information and resources to start and grow your own business
- events, workshops and networking with fellow entrepreneurs
Email: bulwell.library@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Tel: 0115 883 3500
Text a BIPC Advisor: 07929667406
Address: Bulwell Riverside Centre, Main St, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8QJ
Email: ask@inspireculture.org.uk
Tel: 01623 677 200
Text a BIPC Advisor: 07929667406
Address: Foster Avenue, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, NG9 1AE
Email: ask@inspireculture.org.uk
Tel: 01623 677 200
Text a BIPC Advisor: 07971033247
Address: Four Seasons Centre, West Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 1NH
Email: ask@inspireculture.org.uk
Tel: 01623 677 200
Text a BIPC Advisor: 07971033247
Address: Idlewells Shopping Centre, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 1BP
Business Stories
Contact us and Ways to Keep in Touch
Email us: bipc@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
We are members of the Patent Library Network (PATLIB) run by the Intellectual Property Office.
Privacy Policies
Business & IP Centre Nottinghamshire services are free for start-ups and small businesses due to funding from the British Library and Department of Culture, Media and Sport. By engaging with the programme we will ask for feedback from you and will process your personal data with the British Library.
For information about how the British Library will use your personal data, you can view our Privacy Policy at https://www.bl.uk/about-us/privacy-policy
For information about how Nottingham City Library will use your personal data, you can view our privacy policy at https://www.nottinghamcitylibraries.co.uk/privacy-policy/