Focus on Bromley

Start Up Bromley -

entrepreneurs taking over Bromley libraries

Bromley libraries are helping turn ideas into successful businesses by providing practical support and professional workspace for entrepreneurs.

In partnership with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, Bromley Council has launched the ‘Start Up Bromley’ programme which aims to develop a community of new business owners. The Start Up Bromley scheme is free to join and offers entrepreneurs professional insight and access to resources to help imagine, start, or develop their business.

The Council recognises that libraries are ideally placed to support the business community who are recovering from the effects of the pandemic. Bromley’s 14 libraries are highly accessible and evenly distributed across the Borough. As well as business support, entrepreneurs will have access to free workspace, PCs and meeting rooms in Bromley Central and Orpington Libraries, both of which operate late opening times until 7pm. The business facilities will serve as a base for one-to-one business support, workshops, webinars, demonstrations, presentations and talks. Co-working space will provide opportunities for start-ups to collaborate, exchange ideas and learn best practice. The one-year programme has been funded by the Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) which is provided by Central Government and can be used to provide financial support to local businesses through grants and business support functions. Start Up Bromley will specialise in supporting start-ups (e.g. sole traders, limited companies, social enterprises, CICs) and existing entrepreneurs who have been running/or registered a business in the last five years but have not yet developed it to its full potential.

Membership to Start Up Bromley is free and members will benefit from: • Opportunities to meet and build networks of support, sharing updates on their entrepreneurial journeys • Peer to peer sharing of resources, including contacts, skills, space, time and information to support the development of each other’s’ businesses • Enable members to learn from successful local start-ups, established businesses and other professionals associated with the start-up ecosystem

The scheme was launched in May, and celebrated in June with a socially distanced launch event at Bromley Central library. Visitors were able to tour the newly completed business facilities in small groups of no more than six. They were also able to meet entrepreneurs who have found success in a similar scheme at Greenwich Libraries run by Bromley’s library contractor GLL. Philip Johnson, Business Support Manager at Start Up Bromley, commented: ‘Start Up Bromley is launching at a time when many people are considering setting up their own business and our team are ready to welcome all comers to the programme, no matter what stage they are at in their start-up journey.’ Start Up Bromley will work in collaboration with many partners including local business support organisations and economic regeneration teams at Bromley Council, and SiLL (Start Up In London Libraries) Champions in 10 other London boroughs. Lorraine McQuillan, Place Shaping & Local Economy Manager, at Bromley Council commented: ‘We are delighted to be launching Start Up Bromley. We want to do all that we can to support the growth of new enterprises throughout the Borough and are sure that the new business lounges in Bromley Central Library and Orpington Library will become the launch pads for many new, successful, local businesses.’

❛❛Start Up Bromley is launching at a time when many people are considering setting up their own business and our team are ready to welcome all comers to the programme, no matter what stage they are at in their start-up journey.❜❜