As part of our growing Start-Up offer, Business Lincolnshire is proud to shine a spotlight on the free services provided by Lincs Inspire Libraries - including expert support for Intellectual Property (IP). We caught up with Kim Rothman to find out how start-ups can access this little-known but powerful source of support and why understanding IP early on could save your business thousands.
Can you tell us a bit about Lincs Inspire and your role within the libraries team?
Lincs Inspire is a registered charity, operating within Lincolnshire, delivering a range of sports, leisure and cultural services. This includes the public library service within North East Lincolnshire, a service that does so much more than lend books. Through our Business & IP Centre (BIPC), part of a national network set up by the British Library and funded by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and Arts Council England, we support businesses at every stage of their journey.
From business planning strategies and market research to accessing expert advice on IP, our team is here to help. And if there’s something outside our area of expertise, we’ll connect you to someone who can help. That includes free one-to-one advice clinics, virtual workshops, and access to 5,000+ databases for market research, which is often the key difference between a successful business and one that struggles.
We also have links with the Department for Business and Trade, and businesses regularly use our databases to find out what’s happening globally in their sectors. Whether you’re looking to check a patent, understand your audience, or find new markets, we’ve got free tools that can help. And best of all, there’s no hard sell. It’s just support when you need it.
Many people don’t realise libraries offer business support, especially when it comes to IP. What else can start-ups access?
There’s so much on offer and it’s all free with a library card!
If you’re starting a business, we have more than just databases. For example, we provide access to Transparent Language, which supports learning in 120 languages. It’s ideal if you or your team need to brush up on language skills or communicate with a customer where English is not their first language and it’s completely free to use.
We also offer access to over 6,000 digital magazines, perfect for anyone dipping their toe into a new sector and wanting to stay on top of trends. You can even use Theory Test Pro, which helps those learning to drive, useful for business owners or staff.
And if you’re not quite ready to launch a product or service, we have a retail storefront space in Cleethorpes library you can rent for free if you are a not-for-profit organisation or a small fee for commercial ventures to “give your business a go” and test your ideas in a real-world environment.
What are the main types of Intellectual Property and why should start-ups care from the beginning?
From a business point of view, there are four main areas of IP you need to understand.
Trademarks is the big one. You don’t have to trademark your business name or logo, but if you don’t check whether someone else already has, you could be infringing their rights. That can lead to costly fines or even criminal penalties. Businesses often invest in branding without realising a similar or identical trademark exists and end up having to start over. This will stop you falling into pitfalls and expensive mistakes. Every business needs to protect their identity.
Design rights are another key area if you create 2D or 3D designs, protecting your work is essential. Without design rights, it can be difficult and costly to prove something is yours. With protection, not only can you stop others from using your designs, but you may also be able to earn money from licensing too.
Copyright is also key. You automatically own the copyright to your original work, but you need to be able to prove it. We can help you explore simple ways to show that your work is original and hasn’t been copied.
Lastly patents are complex and can be time-consuming and costly, but for the right business and product, they can be a game-changer. Even if you’re not ready to patent something, our databases can help you understand what else is out there, and who’s working on similar ideas.
Do businesses need to book in advance, or can they just walk in?
We regularly run workshops including an Introduction to Intellectual Property, which is usually hosted online so participants can be guided through using our databases. You can book these directly or through Business Lincolnshire. There’s a couple of events coming up, the Startup Workshop From Idea to Launch (BIPC) is on the 3rd of June and Intellectual Property for SME's is on the 10th June and there are always more being added.
You can also contact the BIPC team directly or get signposted through a Business Lincolnshire adviser.
Can you share a success story of how someone has used your services to help their start-up?
We work with a lot of innovative businesses doing brilliant things in this region and while we can’t always share the details publicly, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how people use the service to develop ideas and grow.
Some of the experts we now work with, including trademark attorneys and marketing consultants, who offer free advice through us actually came through the BIPC themselves when they were first starting out. They’re now giving back by helping others.
What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting out and may not think IP is relevant to them yet?
Don’t wait until something goes wrong. Make sure your name, logo, and designs are safe, and get the knowledge you need from the beginning. The support is there, and it’s free.
To find out more about Lincs Inspire, visit their website. For more start-up resources, visit our Start-Up Provision hub on the Business Lincolnshire website.
