Pocketful of Business

Transcription

1 Business information Innovation Learning Advice Internet services Room hire Pocketful of Business Your place in The City to talk business

2 WELCOME City Business Library is the UK s only dedicated business library. We provide free access to specialist business databases and publications, including information on starting a business, market research, company data, forecast statistics and business news. As well as the business resources, there is a programme of events, seminars and one to ones running each month. Rooms are also available to hire. The City Business Library is part of the City of London Corporation library services. It is free to access and there are no membership requirements.

3 CONTENTS Starting your business 4 Advice for your business 6 Know your market! 8 Map 10 Expand your network! 12 Marketing and getting online 14 Taking your business abroad Developing yourself and Room hire 16 18

4 Starting your business Do you have a business idea and want to get started? Or, do you want to start a business, but need some ideas? City Business Library has lots of business information resources available to help you, as well as seminars, workshops and 121 sessions. Using our resources COBRA (Complete Business Reference Adviser) is a good place to begin; with start up guides for over 600 small business trades, sectors and professions it covers everything from setting up an accountancy practice to becoming a yoga and Pilates instructor. It also has factsheets to help you run your business. You can find out how to research your market, write a business plan, form a company and raise funds. There are details of legislation that might affect your business and lots of useful contacts. It s also possible to use this database outside the Library if you have a City of London libraries membership card. Start-up books: City Business Library has lots of useful books on business start-up that cover topics such as writing a business plan, accounting, raising finance, marketing and more. 4

5 Accessing our learning programme City Business Library hosts a range of low cost seminars aimed at helping new/existing businesses including, online marketing, networking, social media, presentations and more. All of our seminars are run by independent consultants, expert staff or business support organisations. For the latest updates and to book please visit or 5

6 Advice for your business Business Guidance If you are intending to start a business why not book a one-hour meeting with one of our expert Business Librarians to help you get off the starting blocks. We will explain the City Business Library s specialist business resources, including electronic and printed resources, and relevant seminars. 6

7 Business Planning Are you about to start your business and finding the planning stage daunting? Or do you just need someone to help you plan your next step? Making sure your business plan is thorough and accurate at the start is an investment that will pay dividends in the long term. Alternatively, you might already be trading but need advice or support about how to develop your business strategy or expand your business. Whatever stage your business is at, the City Business Library 121 business planning hour can help you! Social Media Surgery Make your business online savvy social and online media is growing rapidly and it can be really easy to be left behind. If you have any questions about social media then why not attend a 121 surgery where our technical support staff will be more than happy to help you. 7

8 Know your market! Do you need information on your market or statistics for your business plan? City Business Library subscribes to market research resources to help you find information on your market sector, the major players, trends and forecasts. What resources can I use? MarketLine Advantage allows you to search by industries, geographies and companies worldwide. Passport (Euromonitor) provides market reports on consumer products on a global, regional and country basis. EIU Market Explorer allows you to find countries that offer growth opportunities. Researching the market for your business workshop In this hands-on workshop learn how to use some of the City Business Library s specialist subscription databases to help you find information about you target market or potential markets to expand your business. This workshop repeats monthly. 8

9 9

10 HOW TO FIND US City of London Guildhall, Aldermanbury London EC2V 7HH Tel: BUS Nearest Routes Bank Moorgate Cheapside London Wall 100 RAIL Nearest rail stations Liverpool Street Cannon Street Fenchurch Street Moorgate Blackfriars City Thameslink UNDERGROUND Nearest underground stations Moorgate Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan, Circle, and Northern Bank Northern, Central, Waterloo and City, and DLR Mansion House District, Circle St Paul s Central PARKING Public car parks are available at London Wall 24 hours Barbican 8am midnight Aldersgate 24 hours Please note that this map is not to scale and is intended to be indicative Chancery La CHANCERY HOLBORN LA FARRINGDON ST W SMITHFIELD Barbica NEWG City Thameslink LUDGATE City Thameslink Blackfriars BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE R I V E AL QU

11 MOORGATE BISHOPSGATE DERSGATE ST n ATE ST CHISWELL ST St Pauls MILLENNIUM BRIDGE R Moorgate WE ARE HERE LONDON WALL GRESHAM ST CHEAPSIDE EEN VICTORIA ST Bank Liverpool St Mansion House Monument Cannon St SOUTHWARK BRIDGE LOMBARD ST CANNON ST CORNHILL UPPER THAMES ST LONDON BRIDGE HOUNDSDITCH LEADENHALL GT TOWER ST Aldgate ALDGATE HIGH ST TOWER T H A M E S ST MANSELL ST Tower Hill HILL TOWER BRIDGE

12 Expand your network! Access company information and contacts lists Are you looking for business customers and/ or suppliers? Would you like to know how companies are performing? City Business Library subscribes to a range of specialist resources that provide company information. 12

13 What s available to me? Create your own free contacts list using these databases available in the Library: Fame: Information on over 3.5 million active UK and Irish companies. Create business to business contacts lists. A maximum of 750 companies may be downloaded per day. Mint UK: Information on over 3 million UK companies and nearly 1 million unincorporated businesses. Create B2B contacts list. A maximum of 750 companies may be downloaded per day. Mint Global: Find contact details for over 130 million active companies worldwide. Create a B2B contacts list. A maximum of 750 companies may be downloaded per day. Researching company information and creating contacts lists workshop Learn how to find potential customers, suppliers and/or other companies to do business with. See also how well they are performing. With up to ten years full financial details and contact names. This workshop repeats monthly. 13

14 Marketing and getting online Are you looking to develop your company s online presence? Or do you need support creating a marketing plan for your business? We have lots of seminars focusing on digital communication and marketing for business. There are also resources in the Library where you can learn more about developing your company s online presence. Join us: To find dates and book please go to Social Media as part of your marketing plan Using SEO to increase your website s visitor numbers and profit Generating sales through your marketing Getting started on WordPress workshop Beginners guide to marketing: 10 tips to get you started How to create your own website using WordPress 7 Myths of using Twitter and Facebook for business How to bring in business using LinkedIn Don t forget we also have the social media one to ones which we told you about earlier. 14

15 15

16 Taking your business abroad Are you looking to trade internationally? At the City Business Library you will find information on economies, markets and import and export data that will help you find out more about trading overseas. Take a look at all the information we have! 16

17 EIU Country Profiles This leading country data resource gives detailed analyses and forecasts, covering politics, economy, business and industry sectors for nearly 200 countries. EIU Market Explorer is a powerful tool that enables you to compare opportunities across countries and cities based on the demographics that define your target market. Passport (Euromonitor) includes country profiles, briefings and statistics on topics such as trade, infrastructure and technology. MarketLine Advantage provides country reports for over 200 countries. Reports include key facts, economic statistics and PESTLE analysis. Find macro/socio-economic and demographic data using the Country Statistics database, which is included in MarketLine Advantage. Global Trade Tracker: Import/export statistics on 86 countries. The data is from 2002 to date. It uses the harmonised system. Join us: We also host international trading events where we focus on emerging markets. These events include guest speakers and networking opportunities. Ask us what country is the focus of our next event. 17

18 Developing yourself City Business Library Networking We recognise the importance of expanding your business network. We offer a series of networking mornings, which take place at the library every quarter. We will introduce you to a new entrepreneurial guest at each event. Special events Look out for our special events we run special events focusing on specific areas of business development. Each of these will have networking opportunities too. Gain networking skills Every month we run a series of networking seminars so you can make the most of your time. You can learn how to make that approach, introduce yourself confidently and create your perfect elevator pitch. 18 Online learning courses You can access a range of online courses to help you improve your business skills, increase your employability or to enhance your lifestyle. Certified courses include Prince2, Lean Six Sigma, Bookkeeping and Microsoft Office suite while the employability courses include CV writing, letter writing and soft skills. Many of the courses are discounted and some accredited. There are currently discounts available on Dragons Den Business Essentials CPD Certified, a variety of Microsoft Excel courses and more.

19 Room hire We offer affordable training and meeting rooms to hire in the heart of the City of London. Whether you are planning a large evening event, an afternoon workshop or just a meeting with a client or colleague we have a variety of rooms to suit all your needs. The rooms have a laptop, projector and flipchart and there is free Wi-Fi available. Prices start from 10. For more information, please visit 19

20 Guildhall Aldermanbury London EC2V 7HH Tel: Monday Friday 09:30am 17:00pm Wednesday 09:30am 19:30pm London City Business Library