On 26 Oct 2010 I blogged an announcement by Mark Preece MP of a new a new collaboration between the British Library, NESTA, Newcastle City Library and Northumbria University for a new Business and IP Centre in Newcastle along the lines of the British Library's Business and IP Centre in London (see Jane Lambert "Resources for Inventors in North East England"). I am pleased to say that the Centre is now open at Newcastle City Library and it has a website and twitter feed.
The home page of the website claims to be the "only dedicated Business and Intellectual Property Centre outside London". Leeds Business and Patents would be entitled to argue with that. Like Leeds, the BIPC sets out to be "a comprehensive one-stop-shop for the region’s business talent, offering everything from research materials to subscription database access; tailored 1:1 consultation sessions to the latest business journals."
The BIPC's resources include:
- A wide selection of business reference and lending books.
- Free factsheets and guides (including Trade Marks, Design, Copyright, Esp@cenet, Historical Patents Searching, Patent Information and IP protection)
- Current and backdated newspapers and journals including Management Today, Investors Chronicle, Trade International, Moneyfacts, Marketing, People Management and Contrax Weekly.
- A dedicated seating/study/networking area for business use.
- Display cabinets exhibiting successful case studies and historical patents journals.
- 2 x Apple Macs and 1 PC dedicated for business use.
- Business database subscriptions including Keynote, Cobra, Corporate Researcher and Which?
- A private interview room with PC/internet access.
- Interactive ‘Skills Swap’ networking board.
The enterprise is a joint venture between the City and British Libraries, Newcastle Science City, Northumbria University, the Bdaily business network, some local solicitors and the Newcastle branch of a firm of patent and trade mark agents. Advertised services include assistance with business planning, patent, trade mark and design searches and skill training. BIPC has an interesting programme of events starting with business coaching and a talk by Trevor Baylis on 24 Jan 2012. It plans to develop a range of services on the London model.
One thing that they do seem to lack in Newcastle is an inventors group like the ones in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. When I published my article in 2010 I received a number of enquires and offers of help from inventors in the North East. Our chambers would be very glad to help set up such a group in Newcastle if anyone would care to contact us on 0191 580 8090 or through our form.
The Library is open until 20:30 on Monday to Thursday. It shuts at 17:30 on Friday and Saturday and 17:00 on Sunday. Its address is 33 New Bridge St West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX.
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