Business Support for aspiring and early stage entrepreneurs
Free workshops hosted within your local Borough of Bromley Libraries
London libraries are transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses. In partnership with the London Borough of Bromley and the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, Start Up Bromley will aim to develop a community of new and existing business owners, which is free to join and open to everyone.
We offer insight and access to resources – including workshops, events and walk-in consultations – to help you imagine, start or develop your business.
Your free support package
British Library Webinars and Workshops for Small Businesses

Offering a variety of short and full day workshops, both online and in person, giving you practical support at the earliest stage of your business development: Browse the full list of workshops on the British Library BIPC Events calendar
BRITISH LIBRARY KICKSTART YOUR BUSINESS
We have teamed up with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre (BIPC) to deliver grass roots business support on your doorstep, which is free to join and open to all business owners across the capital. Kickstart Your Business is a two day start-up programme aimed to help you start and progress your business development, for free. Day 1 covers the multiple areas of intellectual property and their relevance to your business, as well as practical tips on how to use the BIPCs recourses to protect, research and develop your business idea. Day 2 takes a deep dive into the areas you need to focus on to kickstart your business; from the essential building blocks of starting up and running a successful business to common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
Link to all Kickstart Your Business workshops: https://bit.ly/40IUSnY
Sign up for Day 1 in Bromley: https://bit.ly/3uh78jx
Sign up for Day 2 in Bromley: https://bit.ly/40LdUKj
You can also check out and sign up to other free workshops and webinars that are on offer throughout the BIPC London Network: https://bit.ly/3FXdSFz
Latest and Upcoming Events
5 AI Tools that will help you gain more customers for your business
Wednesday 15th November | 10am to 2pm| Bromley Central Library
Discover 10 AI platforms that small businesses can leverage to enhance their marketing strategy.
Learn about the latest AI tools and techniques that can help you automate your marketing efforts, improve customer engagement, and boost conversions.
Get practical insights and stay ahead of the competition. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your marketing to the next level with AI.
Global Entrepreneurship Week: Entrepreneur Insights
Thursday 16th November | 10am to 12pm | Webinar
To celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, Start Up Bromley has invited a number of l Entrepreneurs from different industries to give insight on how they have launched and grown their business. Through a series of presentations and a Q&A session, attendees will gain insights into the different avenues small businesses have used to attract their clientele and grow their brand. There will also be an opportunity to reflect on the challenges they have experienced and overcome, as well as ask questions pertaining to your own business journey.
Captivating Video Content for Business
Friday 17th November | 10:30am to 12.30pm | Contingent Works
Why should you book this event? Because we are dedicated to empowering businesses like yours through the impactful medium of video. In this workshop, we'll guide you step-by-step on how to leverage the power of video to captivate your audience. Our state-of-the-art production studio, Sound + Vision, is at your disposal, and we'll create compelling short-form content featuring you. By attending, you'll gain practical insights into crafting engaging videos that resonate with your target audience. This workshop is tailored to elevate your brand presence and storytelling through the lens of video. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your business narrative and leave a lasting impression.
Introduction to the Business Model Canvass
Thursday 30th November | 10.30am to 11:45am | Webinar
A Quick Guide to COBRA
Tuesday 5th December | 10am to 11.15am | Webinar
To view more details and register your attendance please follow the Eventbrite link below
What to expect from the workshops

Start Up Bromley is about building a thriving local business community, focusing on established Bromley businesses helping new and emerging companies in the borough. Start Up Bromley will host regular workshops both virtually and in person covering different aspects of starting up, launching and building a business. Speakers from a variety of companies will share their knowledge and experience for Start Up Bromley members.

Start Up Case study - Pit Pro
Liam Carlton had toyed with the idea of starting his own business for a while but following the wake-up call of a family bereavement and redundancy, he decided to follow his dream. He launched, ‘Pit Pro’, in June 2021, a barbecue subscription box which provides customers with the seasonings, spices and sauces, along with recipes and technical guidance, to enable them to create their own barbecue meals.
“I love barbecues and sitting down with family and friends,” Liam explains, “so I thought, ‘How do I bottle that experience for other people?’”
To support his new enterprise, he signed up for the business start-up service at Bromley Library without any preconceived ideas on what they might offer but eager, nonetheless, to accept any help that came his way. With a background in corporate communications, Liam felt confident in the branding and marketing side of his business but even so, was very pleased when the start-up team supported his decisions.
“The advisers really ‘vibed’ with what I’m doing and they were excited for me,” he comments. “That validation is so important to people who are starting a business. It’s like having a new baby – if you show it to someone and they just say, ‘Oh,’ you’re going to feel awful.”
Liam also found the networking events offered a valuable opportunity to share highs and lows with other new business owners while workshops on pitching your ideas to potential investors were especially beneficial. So much so that when he entered a local ‘Dragons’ Den’ style competition, he won the first prize of £2000.
“I’ve made a lot of mistakes as everyone does when they start a new business,” he muses. “But I don’t think I’d be where I am without the support of Bromley Start-up. I would give other new business owners the following advice – network and get a mentor. I know I can run my ideas past my start-up advisers, Imogen and Loretta, whenever I need to. They always give me good advice.”



Showcasing your products
We can support your business and its products at a dedicated business show case. Here's an example of the Winter Showcase event delivered in Bromley:
Start up Bromley welcomes a wide range of businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to receive support, build networks, test business ideas and much more. Business sectors can include but not limited to:
- Catering businesses
- Professional services / consultancy
- Social enterprises
- Charities
- Fashion / textiles
- Creative media / publishing
- Education
- Health / social work
- Construction / manufacturing / engineering
- Retail
- E-commerce
- Cosmetics / beauty
- Arts and crafts
- Jewellery