The British Library Business & IP Centre (BIPC) is one of the UK’s largest free resources for founders who want to turn ideas into trading businesses. For women innovators, it offers a practical starting point: free access to market research, specialist intellectual property advice, and a national network of advisers who understand the specific barriers women face when commercialising new products and services.
Innovation is not limited to inventing something entirely new. It can mean improving a product, finding a more efficient process, entering a new market, or changing how you reach customers. For women in business across the UK, the BIPC provides the tools to do this without the cost of private consultants or subscription databases.
What the British Library Business & IP Centre offers women founders
The BIPC’s core service is free access to premium market research and business databases that would otherwise cost thousands of pounds a year. These resources help you:
- identify commercial opportunities and emerging trends;
- research potential customers, competitors and market size;
- understand customer needs and behaviour;
- test whether an idea has paying demand before you invest heavily.
Beyond market research, the Centre offers:
- Intellectual property advice: specialist guidance on identifying, protecting and commercialising patents, trade marks, designs and copyright;
- Workshops and webinars: practical sessions on starting, running and growing a business, including IP strategy and finance;
- Networking and peer support: events that connect founders with investors, mentors and other business owners;
- One-to-one advice: confidential sessions with specialists who can review your business plan, IP position or funding strategy.
These services are designed to work together. A founder might use the databases to size a market, attend an IP workshop to protect the idea, then book a one-to-one to prepare a pitch deck for investors.
The BIPC National Network
What began as a single centre at the British Library in London has grown into the BIPC National Network, with centres in libraries across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Since opening in 2006, the BIPC has supported more than 100,000 businesses, according to the British Library.
The Centre runs events and showcases that put women founders and inventors at the centre of its programme. The National Network means you do not need to travel to London to access specialist advice; many services are also available online.
Why women innovators need targeted support
Women founders remain under-represented in the parts of the innovation economy that generate long-term value. British Business Bank data from 2025 shows that all-female founder teams receive less than 2% of UK venture capital investment. IPO figures from 2024 show that fewer than one in five UK patent applications name at least one woman inventor.
These gaps matter because intellectual property and investment are closely linked. A business with protected IP is more attractive to investors, lenders and partners. Yet many women founders report that they lack affordable access to IP advice and reliable market intelligence. The BIPC addresses both needs in one place, often acting as a stepping stone to business grants for women, accelerator programmes or export opportunities.
The economic case is also clear. The 2019 Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship found that advancing women-led businesses could add up to £250 billion to the UK economy. Initiatives like the BIPC are part of the infrastructure needed to close that gap.
Innovating for Growth: scaling with IP strategy
One of the BIPC’s flagship programmes for established businesses is Innovating for Growth. It provides free, intensive business and intellectual property advice to help small and medium-sized enterprises in London innovate and scale. Participants receive tailored support with market research, IP strategy, business planning and growth finance.
The programme is particularly useful for women-led businesses that have moved past start-up phase and need structured advice on protecting and monetising their innovations. It illustrates how targeted, expert support can turn a good idea into a growing, investable company. For founders outside London, the BIPC National Network offers equivalent local support and signposting to programmes such as British Business Bank funding for women founders.
Success stories from the BIPC
The Centre showcases inventions from businesses that have used its services, including Mandy Haberman’s Anywayup Cup. These examples show that innovation can take many forms: a new product, an improved process, a fresh route to market, or a different way of working.
Two long-standing success stories are Cate Trotter of Insider Trends and Emma Hammett of First Aid for Life.
Cate Trotter founded Insider Trends, a retail trends consultancy, in 2008. The business helps brands such as Philips, Nokia, Marks & Spencer and American Express understand and act on emerging consumer trends. Cate is a regular speaker at the British Library and uses the BIPC’s market research reports and databases to keep her trend briefings current and evidence-based. She has also benefited from the Innovating for Growth programme, using the support to put structured processes in place so her team could replicate the business model in new locations.
Emma Hammett set up First Aid for Life in 2006 to provide practical first aid training for groups and individuals. With BIPC support, she developed an accredited online first aid training offer that allowed the business to reach customers across the UK and internationally. The move reduced reliance on Emma personally, created part-time and full-time roles, and laid the groundwork for further expansion. First Aid for Life now delivers both face-to-face and online training and continues to grow.
How to start using the BIPC
If you are a woman founder or inventor in the UK, the BIPC is a sensible first stop before you spend money on consultants or commit to a business structure. Here is how to begin:
- Find your nearest centre: use the BIPC National Network map to locate a centre near you, or start with the British Library in London;
- Book an induction: many centres offer free introductory sessions on the databases and services available;
- Attend an IP workshop: learn the basics of patents, trade marks and copyright before you disclose your idea publicly;
- Use the databases: research your market, competitors and customers using premium resources that are free at the point of use;
- Book a one-to-one: speak to a specialist about your specific challenge, whether that is funding, IP protection or growth planning.
You can also explore free digital support for women in business to complement what the BIPC offers.
Start using the BIPC to protect your innovation
The British Library Business & IP Centre remains one of the most practical free resources available to UK women innovators. Whether you are developing a new product, protecting an invention, or finding a better way to serve your market, it offers market intelligence, IP advice and peer support in one place. The real benefits begin when you come in and start using the services on offer.
