In an environment of constant change and competition, innovation and business improvement are essential to run your business successfully. Our selection of books, articles, links and guides can help you identify strategies, techniques and best practice for introducing new technology, improving existing processes or creating new products and services.
Online books, guides and publications
Briefings
Directors' Briefings and Start-Up Briefings are four-page guides written for the busy practitioner, director and entrepreneur providing concise, practical advice on core business issues.
Checklists
The How to do it guides from BHP Information Solutions are a collection of checklists providing a step by step approach to key business issues.
Disclaimer: These publications from BHP Information Solutions Limited are for general guidance only, for businesses in the United Kingdom governed by the laws of England. BHP Information Solutions Limited, expert contributors and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (as distributor) disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
You will need to be logged-in to the website to gain full access to the range of articles available online.
Small Business Update
A selection of articles aimed at small businesses from Small Business Update magazine:
Useful links
Organisations supporting and encouraging innovation
The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) - set up by Act of Parliament in 1998 to support and promote talent, innovation and creativity in science, technology and the arts. Seeks applications for support, both financial and non-financial, for projects fitting their assessment criteria. Also includes an Inventor's Handbook, and a selection of web links to other useful resources.
Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) - Organisation aiming to advance research, education and policy in the field of small businesses and entrepreneurship in the UK. Web site includes abstracts of conference papers and Enterprising Matters, a quarterly e-magazine with themed issues including "articles from policy makers, practitioners and academics and useful statistics and data".
The European Commission's Innovation and SME Programme - the programme has three functions: a provider of information and assistance to SMEs within Europe, a clearing house for the collection of data on innovation and trends within Europe and as a "test bed" launching pilot actions in the areas of Innovation and SME participation.
Design Council - includes a set of tools to help you to look for new ideas, innovation and opportunities; help you to turn those ideas into reality; and help you to make the most of what you produce. Also includes a tool developed to help small businesses manage the process of designing a web presence.
Regional Development Agencies
The English Regional Development Agencies and the Development Agencies for London, Wales, and Scotland were established to encourage businesses within their regions to grow and thrive. The UK Government has announced that RDAs in England will close at the end of March 2012 and will be replaced by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
Local enterprise partnerships
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) website provides detailed information on the ongoing process of creating LEPs in England, including a list of approved LEPs and their contact details.
BIS has made available a one-off start up fund for LEPs of £5m for 2011-12 and a £4 million capacity fund over four years, as announced in the press release Local growth moves up a gear as Business Minister announces growth package for local enterprise partnerships on 12 May 2011. The press release also announced the creation of a LEP toolbox which "provides information on economic development activity across government departments, sets out possible avenues for LEP/Government cooperation" and provides contact details for LEP relationship managers.
See also
We also maintain pages on local and regional funding and grant resources.
Innovation Centres
Innovation centres offer advice, mentoring, workspace, and networking opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in environments designed to stimulate innovation. They are part of the European Business and Innovation Centres Network.
Universities and Business Schools with entrepreneurship centres/courses
The University of Liverpool - aims to provide "services to businesses regionally, nationally and globally".
Cambridge University - delivers teaching and training programmes for entrepreneurs; advice and guidance for setting-up new ventures; and access to best practice research on the setting-up and growth of knowledge-based businesses
Strathclyde University - aims to "help nurture the entrepreneurial capabilities and intentions of all Strathclyde people ... and to continue to develop and innovate in education, research, and outreach".
Imperial College - The Entrepreneurship Centre of Imperial College is "focused on research and teaching in the field of entrepreneurship ... and recognised as a leader in the field".
Stirling University - Centre for Entrepreneurship offering MBAs, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, research and consultancy.
Durham University - Business School "was established in response to the rapidly changing global environment and the increased relevance of entrepreneurial behaviour and entrepreneurship in a wider range of contexts including larger organisations, the social sector and the public sector".
Cranfield School of Management - provides "short courses designed to address the challenges facing managers in international business today".
Oxford Brookes University - Offers business education, research and management consultancy.
Robert Gordon University - "aims to raise entrepreneurship as a career option throughout the University, with the longer term objective of having an impact on the business birth-rate in Scotland".
Huddersfield University - "linking education with business, industry and the community."
Napier University Edinburgh - "focuses on three aspects when teaching entrepreneurship: Disseminating a body of relevant knowledge, Delivering entrepreneurship in a suitable environment, Involving a range of personnel in the teaching process."
Other centres for entrepreneurship
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) - is an International non-profit organisation that introduces young people from local communities to the world of business and entrepreneurship by teaching them how to develop and operate their own legitimate small business.
Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship (NICENT) - "is led by the University of Ulster in partnership with Queens University Belfast. The primary aim of the Centre is to drive, promote and support entrepreneurship in science and technology subjects".
Patents and intellectual property
United Kingdom
The UK Intellectual Property Office - with information on Trade marks, to identify a trader's particular product or service, design registration to protect the appearance of an article, and patent applications, to protect working parts and processes. All sections include information on how to apply, fees and charges, the benefits of registration and protection, the ability to search Patent Office databases, and downloadable brochures and guides. Also includes a useful selection of links.
The Institute of Patentees and Inventors offers advice and guidance to its members on all aspects of inventing.
The British Library: Protecting your ideas - The British Library's Business and Intellectual Property (IP) Centre incorporates services, information and workshops on the four types of intellectual property: patents, trade marks, registered designs and copyright.
See also - our page on intellectual property.
United States
The US Patent and Trademark Office site, covering patents and trademarks, including searchable databases for both. With special pages designed for inventors, businesses, and intellectual property professionals. The Patent Cafe provides news, advice, software, products, tools and educational support materials. It has designated areas for startup entrepreneurs and inventors/engineers. Also has access to ProSearch LSA, a search engine for patents which can search over 600 databases covering patents, non-patent art and trademarks.
From Patent to Profit is an information resource aimed at both first time and experienced inventors. It includes information on getting started, patent strategy, marketing and licensing.
Creativity sites
Innovationtools.com - aims "to provide busy entrepreneurs with a focused collection of the best tools on innovation, creativity and brainstorming". Includes a selection of articles about creativity and an extensive links section.
Creativity at work - includes a large number of articles and tips on "developing personal creativity and organizational innovation in the workplace". Also has a section of quotes on corporate creativity, and a monthly creativity at work newsletter.
The links section at Creax contains a vast number of links to sites on creativity, idea generation and innovation topics, from businesslike to bizarre
Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
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