Manchester’s libraries are to receive £45,000 to help local people get started in business.
The funding comes from The Department for Communities and Local Government and Arts Council England and will be used to turn library spaces into incubators for business ideas by provide coaching, advice, meeting spaces and IT support to people interested in developing a proposal and taking it to the market.
Manchester has been selected as one of ten councils across the country that will receive a share of £450,000 from the Enterprising Libraries scheme as part of wider action to support local economic growth.
The projects are focused on fostering entrepreneurship by supporting budding business minds in the local community who are interested in becoming self-employed. The funding will help more people access the same kind of services across the country.
The scheme builds on the successful model of the British Library’s Business & IP Centre in London. The service supports small businesses and entrepreneurs to protect their ideas and exploit new market opportunities by providing free access to up-to-the-minute business and intellectual property information and expertise.
According to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles :
“Libraries are the ideal place for people to go and get support for their great ideas. They are now well placed to kick start new business and school self-starters.Enterprising Libraries will ensure that the immense potential that exists in communities is tapped into and that local economic growth is supported across the country.These ten libraries could be where the next generation of young entrepreneurs emerge from and that is a fantastic prospect for us all.”
