A business support centre run from Liverpool Central Library has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs through a project backed by the British Library.
The Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Liverpool City Region said it had a record year, supporting more than 1,500 people between April 2021 and March 2022 - up 39% on the previous year.
The organisation said 48% of these were aspiring entrepreneurs and 39% were looking to grow an existing business.
Of those supported by the BIPC, some 71% were female, 26% were from a Black, Asian or other ethnic minority background, and 18% had a disability.
The organisation's activities include one-to-one mentoring, access to free databases for market research, networking opportunities, workshops, advice clinics and conferences.
Some 6,000 people have used BIPC's services since it launched in 2015. The organisation hopes to help another 1,250 aspiring entrepreneurs and growing businesses over the next year.
BIPCs are part of a national network led by the British Library. The network extends to more than 100 regional and local libraries across England, backed by £13m in government funding.
Last year BIPCs were also launched in Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.
David Gimson, BIPC national network project manager at the British Library said: “Libraries deliver a raft of invaluable services to communities across the UK providing vital resources and support to individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life.
" Our vision is to see libraries become real engines of economic growth and it is fantastic to see this become a reality. The team at BIPC Liverpool are clearly passionate about entrepreneurship.
" These figures show they have performed exceptionally well providing a rich programme of innovative services that often prove a lifeline for businesses. “
Acting head of libraries and information Val Jones said: "We are incredibly proud of the results achieved by the BIPC team who have delivered impressive outcomes in spite of the challenges posed by the pandemic.”
