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Advisors and support

Business advisors

There are networks of business advisors in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales offering advice to businesses of all sizes.

Business support products

Our Business Support team offer a range of outreach products and services to support UK businesses.

  • IP App

    Our IP App developed with IP Wales and Swansea University will give you an overview of IP and IP in business with links to further information.

  • IP Insight

    Our free monthly e-newsletter offering readers the latest developments in Intellectual Property (IP) news, views from the Intellectual Property Office and IP professionals, IP stories in the media, and details of IP events and exhibitions.

  • Business Advisor IP workshops

    Workshops are delivered throughout the UK for groups of business advisers. We have recently delivered a comprehensive IP training programme for UK Trade and Investment’s International Advisors and can offer similar packages for your business support organisation. Please e-mail market@ipo.gov.uk for more information.

  • IP Master Class

    The IP Master Class is suitable for those who want to develop their knowledge and skills of IP. We have developed this course in partnership with Coventry University and the British Library. Accredited by Coventry University and supported by both IP professional bodies, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, this specialist course focuses on all aspects of intellectual property.
    Please e-mail ipmasterclass@ipo.gov.uk for more information.

  • Exhibitions and seminars

    We attend many seminars and exhibitions offering delegates advice and information about the benefits businesses gain from understanding, using and protecting their intellectual property. Details of up and coming seminars and exhibitions can be found on our events calendar.

Business support publications

Sustainability and growth: a tool for business

Sustainability is top of the agenda for many businesses. Whether you are looking to improve the efficiency of your own business practices, or develop new products and services for sustainable markets, there are many sources of advice, guidance and tools for business External Link available to you. Find out more about websites, organisations and standards that can help you.

    Innovate and grow: a tool for design-led businesses

    There's lots of help available for designers and design-led businesses who want to innovate and grow External Link - and much of it is free. This tool can show you where to go to get the advice and support you need.

    Intellectual Property Protection Overseas

    The Intellectual Property Office has, in cooperation with the former Business Links, developed a series of IP Primers regarding IP protection overseas.

    These are designed to help British companies in the major markets around the world. The IP Primers examine IPR in Brazil, China, India, Korea and Vietnam.

    European Patent Office (EPO) publications

    The purpose of this Inventors' Handbook is to provide you with basic guidance on all the key stages of turning an invention into a commercial product. Or perhaps we should say the key stages of turning an idea into an enterprise, if we are to widen our definition of 'invention' to include novel processes, business methods, social interactions etc.

    European project - IPeuropAware

    Provides assistance to SME's and other stake holders in IP issues. IPR Helpdesk focuses on the specific IP issues involved in R&D and innovative EU funded projects. InnovAccess provides SME's with direct access to national and EU resources and general IP issues.