British Library Industry and IP Guides
Our colleagues at the British Library Business & IP Centre have handpicked the best information for understanding intellectual property (IP) within specific sectors and for researching key industries, including (but not limited to) Arts and Craft, Business and Finance, Charities, Fashion, Health & Fitness, Board Games and Pet Products.
These guides highlight useful databases, publications and websites, some of which are available at our South Yorkshire Libraries.
Can’t see what you are looking for? If there is an industry report which you would like the team to develop, you can email the British Library and submit a request.
Cobra
When starting a business, it’s crucial that you create an action plan. COBRA is an easy to use online resource with lots of information for people starting up a business, providing hundreds of small business guides as well as practical how-to fact sheets, covering everything from writing a business or marketing plan to highlighting relevant legislation. Use our Quick Guide to access COBRA wherever you are, you just need your library membership number!
| Quick guide to Cobra |
Kompass
Are you looking for new companies to sell to, but haven’t got the time to call new sales leads up? We can help you get past the gatekeeper! Using our global information database KOMPASS, our Quick Guide can help you use the database to get in direct contact with the person in the exact department that you need to do business with, saving you time and money, directly from your home or office.
| Quick guide to Kompass |
The Intellectual Property Office
The IPO UK is the official government body responsible for granting intellectual property rights in the United Kingdom.
Get started with a free IP Health Check and check out their handy guides to find out more.
Benefits of Business Information Databases
The table below shows you where to start searching the different business information databases, depending on the query.
| I want to: | Start with: | How will this help |
| Advice & Funding: | Cobra Grantfinder | Supporting business in functional aspects of how to run a business and any potential loans or grants that may be available |
| Market Research/Desk Research: | Mintel Ibis World Local Data Online EMIS Passport (Sheffield Only) | Statistics & Analysis on: Market Research, Market Trends, Current and Future Consumer Behaviour, Market Size, Market Forecasts, Competitor Analysis need to inform business plan and test viability of business proposition |
| Company Data: | Fame Kompass EMIS | Marketing lists, identify partners, Identify distributors, Identify Suppliers, Lead Generation, Due Diligence, Competitor analysis. Helps segment the market: TurnoverIndustry typeNumber of employeesLocationService AreaProduct Type |
Benefits of Cobra
The table below shows you where to start searching the COBRA database, depending on your query.
| I want to: | Start with: |
| Research my business idea | Business Opportunity Profiles. Market Synopses (under Sector Guides). Sector Research Guides (under Sector Guides). |
| Research a particular sector | Sector Guides. |
| Find out about business support and funding. | Local Area Profiles. Business Information Factsheets – browse the Business support and advice, and Finance categories. |
| Understand the practical aspects of starting or running a business | Business Information Factsheets – browse by category. |
| Understand my legal responsibilities. | Business Information Factsheets – browse the Trading legally category. |
| Find out what training or qualifications I need for a particular trade or profession. | Business Opportunity Profiles. |
Benefits of Mintel
The table below shows you where to start searching the Mintel database, depending on your query.
| I want to: | Start with: |
| Research my business idea | Reports |
| Research a particular sector | Reports – The Market – Key Takeaways Industry Trends Expert Insights Filter Search using trend drivers |
| Understand my Consumer | Reports – Consumer Filter a search using Demographics |
| Understand my competitors | Reports – Brand/Company |
Benefits of IBISWorld
The table below shows you where to start searching the IBISWorld database, depending on your query.
| I want to: | Start with: |
| Research my business idea | Industry Research Guide. |
| Research a particular sector | Industry Research Guide. |
| Understand how an industry in performing | Industry Research Guide – Industry Performance |
| Future performance of the industry | Industry Research Guide – Industry Outlook |
| Learn about the competitors in the industry | Industry Research Guide – Competitive Landscape |
Benefits of GRANTfinder
The table below shows you where to start searching the GRANTfinder database, depending on your query.
| I want to: | Start with: |
| Find a: Grant Loan Award venture capital equity finance for my : Public sector organisation Voluntary, Community or Social Enterprise Private Company | Search GRANTfinder |
| I want to find: Grants Loans Based on: £X Amount Different Regions | Search GRANTfinder and filter on funding amount & Geographic Scope |
| I want watch specific grants and have them emailed to me | Save the search in “my resources” “my folders” |
| I want help completing a funding bid | “library” tab, “Successfully secreting Grand Funding: A Beginners Guide” |
Benefits of Kompass
The table below shows you where to start searching the Kompass database, depending on your query.
| I want to: | Start with: |
| Find A Supplier, Distributor, Service Provider | Using the Kompass Classification, tick the appropriate Column |
| I want to email a contact directly from Kompass | When you have found the company, click on the Contacts folder. If they have an envelope next to their name you can contact them directly. If they are NOT from UK, USA or Lebanon you will not see their personal email address if the list is printed |
| Will my “Bulk List” update | Each time you run a saved search the data will include any news prospects as the information in the database is constantly updated. |
| I want to print my search | 1 company profile can be printed from the 2 customer accounts. To print a “Bulk List” the customer needs to share the “Saved Search” with the Administrator Account and Frontline staff can print it from “My Saved Searches”. Each company is a Credit and each Library has limited credits which will not be renewed |
| My Lists | We are not advising customers to create “my lists”. When using the terminology “Bulk Lists” we are referring to “Saved Searches” |
Benefits of FAME
The table below shows you where to start searching the FAME database, depending on your query.
| I want to: | Start with: |
| I want to find companies matching a specified profile including size, industry and location | Create a Search |
| I want to find a specific Company | Use the icon (that looks like building) and click on companies to start your search |
| I want to find out whether a company has a CCJ against them | You can either this information in Company Profile if you are looking at an individual company. If you are performing a search you will find it in under the category Credit Data & CCJs |
| I want to find out who the directors are of a company and who ultimately owns the company | Find the Specific Company and using the Key Information chapter you can see the headline information. You can drill down further by looking at the Directors and contacts chapter and the Corporate ownership chapter |
Strengths of Business Information Databases
| Advice & Funding | Market Research/ Desk Research (B2C – Businesses to Consumers) | Company Data – (B2B – Business to Business) |
| Information Extracted Business Information Factsheets Business Opportunity Profiles Legal Information Intellectual Property information Access to funding | Credible Data Awareness of Possible Risks Insight of Future Potential Informed Decision Making Viable Business Plan Information Extracted Market Size Market Issues & Trends Market Forecasts Consumer Behaviour Competitor Analysis | Competitor Analysis Lead Generation Identifying Suppliers Due Diligence Identifying Partners Information Extracted Background & Financial details Ownership Locations Products Target Sales New Suppliers/ Partners |