Get ready for growth and scale up

Have you got an idea to start a business? Are you wondering what’s involved in being self-employed or do you need help to grow and existing business? You can access a huge range of resources at the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) in Liverpool Central Library

BIPCs are a free service designed to support anyone who wants to start or grow a business. Some are not for profit, some are charities, others are small business or sole trading operations right through to multi-million-pound companies.

BIPCs offer a wide range of resources and a comfortable, welcoming space with free wi-fi in which to work on your business. If you have an idea and you want to protect it, you can access professional legal advice around copyrights, trademarks or patents. For anyone writing a business plan or researching a market there are free databases providing up-to-the-minute market trends and information.

You can download industry guides and explore all sorts of opportunities such as running your own pub, consultancy, café or restaurant or starting up an online business. There are how-to guides on everything from fashion, art, wellbeing and personal fitness to food, music, technology, hospitality and much more.

Liverpool Central Library is a fully accessible venue. The BIPC team is friendly and approachable with a genuine passion for helping entrepreneurs. Since being set up in 2015 over 6,000 people have benefited from BIPC support.

Our Entrepreneur in Residence, Gary Millar and his team of volunteers run drop-in clinics in Central Library every Thursday from 1pm-4pm. This is a great opportunity to access free, impartial quality advice on everything from protecting your idea through to making more sales or solving a business problem.

We also run a fantastic programme of online and physical events on a wide range of topics which are all completely free. These are designed to allow people to network, connect, access information, be inspired and learn valuable business skills. We’ve covered everything from podcasting to cybercrime, health and wellbeing to social media marketing and presentation training.

BIPC Liverpool is part of a national network led by the British Library in London. Last year BIPC services were launched across Liverpool and in St Helens, Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton.

If you would like to find out more about how BIPC Liverpool can help you with your business idea, email libraries.enquiries@liverpool.gov.uk or call 0151 233 5835; Twitter @BIPCLiverpool; liverpool.gov.uk/bipc

Featuring a range of premium touches throughout, this two-bedroom apartment at the recently launched Apo Liverpool rental scheme on The Strand is the ultimate city centre pad.

The open-plan kitchen comes fully equipped with every appliance you would expect to find at a high-end residential development, whilst retaining plenty of space for a dining table and four chairs.

Light and spacious, the connected living area is the ideal spot for entertaining guests with two elegant sofas, handy media storage unit and a statement coffee table.

The well-appointed master bedroom meanwhile, benefits from an en suite bathroom, built-in wardrobe, hanging rail and extra storage.

The experience of renting at Apo Liverpool extends well beyond the confines of your own apartment however, with a host of resident services and members-only facilities available including a gym, two flexible working areas and a rooftop terrace located on the 16th floor.

Other perks include the Apo resident app, which tenants can use to book their place on classes or at one of Apo Liverpool’s community events, as well as message neighbours and set up their own social groups.

For more information or to book a viewing, call 0151 317 7157 or email membershiplpl@a-part-of.com