I was delighted to be invited to the British Library last week to celebrate 20 years of the Business and Intellectual Property Centre. For those not in the know (and it’s a dry-sounding title, so you’d be forgiven), the BIPC is a nationwide scheme that’s been spun out of the British Library.
Ticketlab and I have been lucky enough to be on TWO programmes run by the British Library and the BIPC: one for starting up and one for scaling up. We’re still a small company. But through the training and support we’ve had, we’ve been able to help thousands of small businesses across the country to host events and create value for communities, individuals and businesses.
I’m a big fan of libraries in general (we started out and continue to run gigs in libraries, and my first grown-up job was in Croydon Central Library). The highlight of the evening was Tim Campbell giving his own love letter to libraries as safe havens and engines for growth. Libraries are great. As Tim said in his speech: “Like ChatGPT, but doesn’t lie to you.”
The start-up programme gave us the foundations: accounting, IP, business planning, the basics. The scale-up programme pushed us further: strategy, hiring, growth. Both were practical and grounded in what real businesses need. Every event Ticketlab helps host, whether it’s a local meetup or a festival, touches organisers, attendees and their communities. Small teams can punch above their weight when they have the right tools.
If you’re starting or scaling something, check whether there’s a BIPC near you. And if you’ve already benefited from one of their programmes, tell someone about it.
