The DCLG has pledged to part-fund a £1.2m programme to transform six city libraries into ‘innovation incubators’ - which will help local residents create start-up businesses.
The ‘Enterprising Libraries’ scheme, supported and co-funded by the British Library and Arts Council England, could see leading business figures provide mentoring assistance, while specialist commercial advisers and patent lawyers offer high quality research to new firms at low cost.
Spread in two equal yearly instalments, the programme would also allow libraries in other parts of the country - particularly communities often excluded from traditional business support - to partner with these 6 patent-holding city libraries based in Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield.
The Enterprising Libraries initiative builds upon the success of the British Library’s own Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centre which since 2006 has run more than 4,000 workshops which in turn have contributed to the creation of more than 2,700 business start ups and more than 3,300 jobs.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles said: ‘This fantastic project deserves government support. It will give communities business support and turn town and village libraries into incubators of innovation.
'By expanding the pool of entrepreneurial talent and reaching every community it will lead to the creation of more businesses, more jobs and ultimately contribute to economic growth across the country.’
