Free Business Events Free events from BIPC Local Crawley Library
RISE Workshop
Managing Innovation
Thursday 23rd June 2022
9.30-11.30am
In person event
Get your start up business set for success!
This free expert panel discussion webinar is aimed at people who are thinking of launching a business, have just started, or have up to 18 months of trading experience.
Wednesday 29th June 2022
10am-12pm
Business 121 information clinics
In person event
Online
One hour bookable sessions
Innovation Clinics with RISE
In person event
One hour bookable sessions
Free business webinars and events from the BIPC Sussex:
Market Research for Start-Ups
Tuesday 31 May 2022
10-11am
With the BIPC team
BIPC Relaxed Online Business Networking
Tuesday 7 June 2022
12-1pm
Introduction to Patents
Friday 10 June 2022
12.30-1pm
Using PR to build your Brand Visibility
Wednesday 15 June 2022
10-11am
Effective Planning for your Business
Tuesday 21 June 2022
10.30am-12pm
In person event
RISE Recovery: Managing Innovation – Lift off!
Thursday 23 June 2022
10am-12pm
In person event
Coffee Morning – Relaxed In-person Networking
Monday 27 June 2022
10-11.30am
Getting Started with LinkedIn to Grow your Business
Tuesday 28 June 2022
10-11am
How to make the most of your website – secrets of onsite SEO
Thursday 30 June 2022
10-11am
Database Workshop: Finding Business-to-Business (B2B) Leads
Thursday 30 June 2022
2-3.30pm
In person event
The Confident Business Series
Wednesday 25th May – Wednesday 21st July 2022
Free practical business support programme for any business in Brighton & Hove adversely affected by the pandemic.
Led by the BIPC and delivered by Brighton Chamber and always possible.
You can also join any events run by the British Library's Business and IP Centre.
Local Business Exhibitions BIPC Sussex will be attending these business exhibitions:
Brighton & Hove Business Show
23 June 2022, 10am-3pm
Amex Stadium, Brighton
Better Business Show
22 Sept 2022
Worthing
eBooks about Business 
You can now borrow e books about Business for free with your library card. Browse our Business reading list and download books through our e book provider, Libby
Library Resources We have a wealth of eInformation Resources available for library members, plus information and websites that can help with Learning from Home
Plus our helpsheets on:
Universal Credit - some quick guidance on how to fill out these forms
Jobs and Careers - how the library service can help or support you find work or change career
Training Websites 
GOV.UK - Straightforward and comprehensive information to get you started.
Information to help you take the next step to getting skills and qualifications, or just learning something new. NCS provides a Lifelong Learning Account where you can store your CVs, course seraches and skills health check.
Prospects - Guide for students to help choose the right career.
AIS - Help you search for apprenticeship, traineeship or pre-employment training in Sussex.
Do-it - Volunteer for people and causes that matter to you. This may help develop experience and skills to help you get in to work and develop (or change) your career.
Skillswise - Basic skills to get in to work.
Learndirect - Distance learning, online courses and Apprenticeships as well as part and full time classroom courses throughout the UK.
icould - Real life career videos, advice and information to inspire your career. Why not take the Buzz test!
eNewspapers 
Using Pressreader you can read or download current copies of The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Daily Mail, Daily Star, Daily Mirror, Daily Express, The Guardian as well as a selection of over 7000 worldwide newspapers and magazines.
You can translate some into different languages as well as reading foreign titles in English.
Download or read our helpsheet here.
eMagazines - borrow digital versions of magazines like this one for free to read on your computer, tablet, eBook reader or smartphone.
Free Courses 
Designed by Google to boost your digital knowledge, The Digital Garage courses include everything from building a web presence to social media, to help you grow your business or career. You even get a certificate at the end.
MOOC List - Find a whole host of free courses provided by many different organisations. Topics include:
- Finance and Growth
- Start Ups
- Creativity and Planning
- Entrepreneurial Mindsets
HMRC Free Online Course about Starting a Business and Tax
Includes information on:
- Choosing a structure for your business
- Telling HMRC about your self employment
- Keeping your business records and claiming expenses
- Sending HMRC your tax returns and payments
- Finding further help and support
A collection of training resources to help people to use the lockdown to acquire jobs skills for when more businesses reopen. Includes Open University courses on basic maths and how to write computer code, Future-Learn courses in digital skills and producing online content, Google courses in digital marketing and resources to help people get started online provided by the digital-inclusion charity the Good Things Foundation.
Business Resources We have a wealth of FREE online business resources that can help you to start your own business, continue studying, build professional skills and connect with others.
Sussex Libraries and the British Library’s National Network of Business & IP Centres are transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses.
The Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Sussex with its Regional Centre – BIPC Brighton & Hove at Jubilee Library in Brighton and its BIPC Local at Crawley Library, supports entrepreneurs, start-up businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises in Sussex, from that first spark of inspiration to successfully launching and developing a business.
As well as being a hub for entrepreneurs to network, the BIPC provides free access to over £50K worth of industry, market and company specific research data and analysis, one-to-one expert advice sessions, IP support and a programme of business events to help you imagine, start or grow your business.
Click here to download our BIPC Sussex leaflet.
For more information please contact our Enquiries Team
These resources are available FREE to library members.
Not a member? Join here
COBRA 
COBRA is available free in all West Sussex libraries and library card holders can access it 24/7 from their computer, tablet or smartphone. It is a continually expanding business database with information about starting and running a small business. Access to around 4000 factsheets, market reports, contacts, funding resources and help and support.
It's a unique source of information for starting a small-scale business.
For more help with COBRA, download or read our helpsheet or watch our video:
Kompass 
Kompass Easy Business contains information on over 43 million (mainly manufacturing) companies across 71 countries worldwide. You can use it to contact other businesses (B2B).
You can search and view individual company information on Kompass on PCs in any West Sussex Library.
Kompass is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
For more help with Kompass, you can download or read our helpsheet or watch this video:
If you would like to download lists of companies in spreadsheet format, contact our Ask a Librarian service with details of the search you require.
Grantfinder 
Grantfinder is a database for all types of funding including loans, awards & grants to help local companies succeed and grow.
Local entrepreneurs and individuals can search independently through the thousands of funds available to them.
These include:
- Government programmes
- regional schemes
- local authority funds
- prestigious business award competitions.
Grantfinder is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
Please ask library staff to sign you in to access this database.
For help with Grantfinder you can download our helpsheet.
Alternatively, you can contact our Ask a Librarian service with details of the search you require.
Statista 
Statista provides easy access to global statistical data, reports and forecasts on industries, brands and consumers.
Statista is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries - please ask library staff to sign you in.
Although you can access the statistics and outlooks once logged in, for reports please email the title(s) you require to our Ask a Librarian service and we can send them out to you.
For further help, there is an online guide to Statista and this useful training video.
Local Data Online
Local Data Online provides insight into high streets, shopping centres, retail parks, standalone stores and small parades for over 7000 locations, every retail chain and over 300,000 independent retailers across Great Britain.
Understand local, regional and national occupancy and vacancy trends, using primary research to enhance your decisions.
Local Data Online is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
Please ask library staff to sign you in to access this database.
For help with using LDO in any West Sussex Library, use this Local Data Online User Guide.
Alternatively you can Ask a Librarian to help you with a search.
IBIS World 
IBIS World market research and forecasting database provides:
- Industry Market Research for the UK, Ireland and general global reports.
- Industry Risk Ratings.
- Analysis of hundreds of industries including risk scores & revenue forecasts.
IBIS World is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
You can search IBIS world in any West Sussex Library, but you can only download reports by contacting the West Sussex Ask a Librarian service to ask for the information you need.
For more help using IBIS world, download this helpsheet or watch this video:
Fame 
Fame (Financial Analysis Made Easy) provides information on 11 million private companies in the UK and Ireland. It can help you create searches to find companies with specific profiles and do detailed analyses on individual or groups of companies (including your existing customers).
- Create targeted B2B marketing lists.
- Create intelligent searches to promote your firm to the right companies.
- Export your results for analysis or business development projects.
Fame is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
Please ask library staff to sign you in to access this database.
Read this FAME user guide to find out how to search this database.
Alternatively, you can contact our Ask a Librarian service with details of the search you require.
EMIS 
EMIS (Emerging Markets Information Service Information platform) provides a unique blend of analysis, data and news on companies, industries and countries in eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as global data.
EMIS licenses content from leading sources of company and industry intelligence, combined with a database of over 6.6 Million companies, M&A information and country level research.
You can access up to 10 reports and up to 250 companies in list form per day.
EMIS is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
To find out more about EMIS, you can download our helpsheet or watch these videos:
Alternatively, you can contact our Ask a Librarian service with details of the search you require.
Euromonitor International Passport 
Euromonitor International Passport provides strategic business information to thousands of companies worldwide.
A useful tool if you're doing either very specific analysis or looking at big picture economic or social changes.
Euromonitor is only available on computers in West Sussex Libraries.
You can browse or search Euromonitor, view market reports, articles and data and print up to twenty pages per session, for use in personal research and private study.
For more information, watch these videos:
Or download the Euromonitor User Guide
Alternatively, you can contact our Ask a Librarian service with details of the search you require.
Business Websites 
Created to help new businesses to start-up, and to help growing businesses to grow more quickly. Offers free support to pre-start and established businesses in the Coast-to-Capital area through the Business Hothouse at the University of Chichester.
RISE – Research and Innovation in Sussex Excellence
Project by the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, offering free business innovation support to small and medium enterprises in West Sussex to progress innovation approaches for start-up and development.
Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a local business led partnership between local authorities and businesses. Coast to Capital plays a central role in determining local economic priorities and undertaking activities to drive economic growth and the creation of local jobs.
Creative coworking and office space for freelancers, start-ups, small businesses and social enterprises in Bognor Regis. Everything you need in one amazing space including business support events and networking opportunities.
Register to access a world of free expert-led training designed specifically for retailers. Learn new retail skills in bite-size chunks. Each section is 2-4 minutes long.
Advice and information about Trading Standards, business safety, waste, rates and more.
Information and support from a variety of sources to help your business.
West Sussex Gigabit Broadband for Businesses Scheme
More information if you have a business in West Sussex.
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme
This Scheme from the Dept. of Digital, Cuture, Media and Sport is part of the Local Full Fibre Networks Programme which has the strategic objective of increasing full fibre coverage across the UK.
Federation of Small Businesses
Helping smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.
Advice and guidance on many aspects of starting a business.
Government-owned business development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses.
Advice and guidance on all aspects of starting and running a business.
eDEAL - Confidential and impartial business advice.
Explains the process of setting up a business from home and dispels common myths about it.
Help with setting up a business.
Government support for businesses.
Virtual Events to keep you connected with other business members.
Make it British - Manufacturers Directory
An easy way to find British Made products and UK manufacturers.
Make it British - Brands Directory
Discover product brands made in the UK.
Free digital advice for small businesses and charities impacted by coronavirus, provided by expert volunteers.
Useful TED Talks Scott Dinsmore: How to find work you love
Carol Fishman Cohen: How to get back to work after a career break
Local Government Support For local business information and support click on the relevant link below.
To find out which district or borough the area you are looking at belongs to, follow this link.
Arun
Adur and Worthing
Chichester
Crawley
Horsham
Mid-Sussex
Chambers of Commerce:
Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce
Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Buy With Confidence 
Hundreds of local businesses with the West Sussex Trading Standards stamp of approval.
Theory Test Pro Theory Test Pro is available free to all West Sussex library members from home. You will need to sign up for an individual account to access this resource. It has all the driving theory test questions, a large amount of hazard perception tests and is frequently updated.
Download or read our helpsheet here
Watch the video below for an introduction:
Working from Home Lots of us are having to work from home during the pandemic. You will have guidelines set by your employer but here are a few general pointers:
BBC: 5 ways to work well from home.
Good Housekeeping: 7 effective ways to work from home.
ACAS: working from home
Employers are also using software for group chats and video conferencing. Here are some of their choices:
For more information about working from home, visit our page about Digital Support.
Staying Safe Online 
Don't forget to stay safe online. For the latest advice, guidance and information:
Sign up to WSCC's monthly Staying Safe Online newsletter and follow @WSxSafeOnline on Twitter.
