smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

The Body Shop founder Dame Anita Roddick has announced a series of one-to-one ‘Ask an Expert’ sessions to take place at the British Library Business & IP Centre in London.

The programme aims to allow budding entrepreneurs to benefit from one-to-one advice and inspiration from ‘one of the most celebrated business icons of the past 30 years’, says the British Library.

During each free half-day session, Roddick will meet entrepreneurs and SMEs needing advice on launching social and ethical enterprises and creative areas such as marketing, new product development and media relations.

‘I know from first-hand experience how scary but exciting it can be on the road to starting up your own business,’ comments Roddick. ‘I can’t wait to meet people who are passionate about their new venture and overflowing with great ideas, but who need to bounce them off a seasoned entrepreneur.’

Among the young businesses to benefit from last year’s sessions was eco-friendly product designer DIY KYOTO. Founder Richard Woods describes Dame Anita as an inspirational speaker. ‘Her ways of thinking and doing are highly relevant to any business trying to do something a little bit different to the rest of the crowd,’ he says.

Applications for the first 6 months are now open until 31 January 2007. To find out more, click here or contact Ben Sanderson at the British Library Press Office (tel: 01937 546126, email: ben.sanderson@bl.uk) or Lawrence Christensen (tel: 020 7412 7114, email: lawrence.christensen@bl.uk)

In addition to the ‘Ask an Expert’ sessions, the British Library Business & IP Centre runs a wide-ranging programme of workshops and networking events, the next of which is aimed explicitly at socially conscious entrepreneurs in the Anita Roddick mould.

‘Ethical Entrepreneurs: the Rise and Rise of Good Business’, to be held on Monday 22 January (18:15-20:00), will bring together four of Britain’s most successful social and ethical entrepreneurs to take part in a panel discussion, Q&A and networking session.

Tickets priced £10 (£7.50 concessions), are limited to 255 and are available by phone 020 7412 7222, email boxoffice@bl.uk or in person at the Information Desk of the British Library.