Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Business and IP Centre (BIPC) is working with the British Library to launch a dedicated programme that will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region to transform and grow their business through the Covid-19 crisis.

The Reset. Restart programme is free and open to all UK business owners. It is delivered nationally by the British Library, with local support from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough BIPC.

The national programme consists of a series of 10 monthly webinars on topics discussing opportunities within the "new normal", product and service innovation, marketing, finance and new business models.

Businesses in Peterborough can access further support from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough BIPC, including 1-to-1 sessions and an extensive programme of online workshops launching in the middle of December. Sessions will take place remotely to ensure social distancing and national restrictions are kept.

The Peterborough BIPC is located in Peterborough Central Library and offers free and low-cost access to business intelligence, market research, training and intellectual property (IP) support for SMEs in the city. The Reset. Restart scheme will run alongside these existing services.

The first seven local online workshops are to be delivered by Anglia Ruskin University and have been produced with help from university academics and experienced entrepreneurs. These workshops will focus on the subjects of understanding your customers, making the right business contacts, building relationships with your customers, and means of generating income.

Councillor Steve Allen, Peterborough City Council's cabinet member for housing, culture and recreation, said: "Our BIPC has a proven track record of helping to create successful small businesses with strong survival rates and of supporting under-represented entrepreneurs in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. This new initiative will build on the tailored support already offered, helping our local SMEs to thrive and prosper during these difficult times."

Professor Yvonne Barnett, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Anglia Ruskin University, says: "As an anchor institution in the East of England committed to supporting economic growth, we are delighted to be expanding on our existing work with small and medium-sized enterprises as part of this project with libraries in our region and the British Library.

"Our academics have practical experience and expert knowledge of their sectors, and are committed to helping local businesses not only weather the storm of Covid-19 but also to take opportunities to prosper and grow."

For details and booking, visit the National Reset. Restart Programme or the Local Reset. Restart Programme, or find out more general information about the BIPC in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.