After the New Year's festivities and burst of resolutions die down, January can be a tough month. With colder weather and shorter days, it can be a difficult time to stay motivated and enthusiastic about your business plans and goals. To help give you a boost and keep the January blues away, we've put together some of the best business advice we've heard from our BIPC businesses and supporters across the country.

If you're feeling inspired after reading all of our best business advice, get your business moving this January with our free in-person Kickstart Your Business programme starting next week. Find out more and sign up here.

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Look after yourself 

Running a business is a challenging endeavour, especially in the beginning, and new business owners have a lot to learn. My advice would be to visit your local BIPC for business support instead of struggling to work things out for yourself. This, in turn, will reduce your stress levels and give you breathing space. When things feel too much it's important to take some time out to think and do something that excites you. Spend time with good friends and loved ones. That experience will boost your mood and confidence.   

- Nevo Burrell, Founder of Nevo Concept and BIPC Local Waltham Forest Business Ambassador

Take risks

Our business advice would be to take risks, not worry too much, and never be afraid to ask questions – Melvin and Matthew, Founders of PlayPress Toys

Always think of your customers first

Our best business advice is to stay customer-focused and continuously innovate. Understand the needs and challenges of your customers, and strive to create solutions that not only meet but exceed their expectations. Additionally, building a strong network of partners and advisors, like those available through the BIPC, can provide crucial support and insights that drive your business forward. - Anthony Lau, Founder of Cyclehoop

It's okay to fail

The best piece of business advice I’ve been given is that it’s ok to fail. You have to fail to be successful. In fact, we need to fail more. - David Burroughs, Founder of Buddies for All and BIPC Local Lewisham Business Ambassador

Surround yourself with uplifting people

The best business advice I’ve ever received has been to surround yourself with people who lift you higher. It can be a lonely journey but business is all about relationships and creating value for other humans. - Denise Nurse, Chief Success Officer of DBN Enterprises and host of the BIPC's Inspiring Entrepreneurs event with Sara Davies (watch online here)

Find your niche

Our best piece of business advice is to find your niche. This has really helped us to focus our attentions on who our target customers are, ensuring that we play to our strengths. - Jennifer and Fiona, Founders of Amaze Associates and BIPC Local Lewisham Business Ambassadors

Be true to yourself 

Our best piece of business advice is to be true to yourself and not fear failure, as you can always try again. - Patty and Ali, Founders of Sweet Paper Creations and BIPC Local Waltham Forest Business Ambassadors

Celebrate every small win

Celebrate every small win. When you’re motivated your creativity improves and it’s easier to develop new solutions for business-related problems or invent new products. The connection between physical and mental health is stronger than I thought. It’s important to exercise both mind and body to fully use all your skills on your business. Female entrepreneurs can often face a wider range of challenges: in my case I’ve started my pre-menopause at 42. This brings short periods of depression and lack of sleep, some mornings I don’t want to even get out of bed. It’s difficult, but exercise helps a lot. - Judy Chicangana, Founder of Delmora and BIPC Local Bromley business ambassador 

Alongside these words of wisdom, don't forget that our network of BIPCs is here to help you this year - wherever you are in your business journey, and wherever you are in the country. Find your local BIPC here.

As 2025 rolls in, a whole host of new material and content has entered the public domain and can be now be remade or adapted by anyone without worrying about copyright infringement. Jeremy O'Hare, the British Library's Research and Business Development Manager, has put together this blog to explain how public domain works and which exciting new works are now available to use for free.

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The Great New Year Copyright Giveaway!

Every new year, on the stroke of midnight, hundreds of works of literature, art and recordings magically transform themselves into a gift for everyone to use. This gift is called ‘public domain’. 

It’s not widely known that copyright on every creative work will eventually expire. This means, in effect, that anybody can reprint, reproduce, adapt and recreate famous (and sometimes not so famous) works for their own use after a certain amount of time has passed. 

What is copyright and how does it expire? 

Copyright is a type of intellectual property. If you’re an author, musician, software creator, artist, photographer or illustrator, video/film maker or even podcaster, the content you create is automatically yours to own, use and commercialise. It is your copyright, on one condition -- that it is original work that you created. You should also be able to prove you created it when you did, so you can demonstrate that you created the work first (especially if someone were to copy or adapt it).  

The question is how long can someone claim ownership over their work? The answer (in UK copyright law) is the lifetime of the author or creator +70 years from the end of the calendar year of their death. Alternatively, if there is no designated creator and the work is produced by, say, a corporate entity, it is seventy years from the date of first release.  

Either way, potentially a long time and often long enough for a descendant or other owner/publisher to maintain control over the right of usage, even after the death of the original creator. 

As every new year rolls over, the +70 years copyright period will expire for more works. This can be a big moment for fans of famous works previously protected by copyright, as they can now be freely recreated or adapted into something new.  

Want to find out more about copyright and how it might apply to your business? Sign up for our monthly introduction to copyright webinar. You can also find regular webinar introductions to Intellectual Property here.

Some recent famous names 

For UK readers, did you know that the works of notable authors such as James Joyce, George Orwell and Virginia Woolf that were published during their lifetimes are now free to reuse and adapt? 

Works of art and illustration by artists such as Max Beckmann and the much-loved illustrator of the Wind in the Willows Arthur Rackham are also able to be used. 

Films in the public domain include some classic works in the history of film, such as Fritz Lang’s Metropolis or many of Charlie Chaplin’s earliest films. Other works that maybe of interest for reusing are old British Pathé News or Movietone reels, especially if you’re wishing to reuse original historical news and documentary archives.  

Likewise, early radio broadcasts from the 1930s and 1940s are also now public domain, as are broadcasts from the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. In fact, broadcasts have a much shorter copyright life of just 50 years. However, this does not apply to recorded music or other underlying copyrighted work, such as an original script for radio. 

Some creative reuses 

As new digital formats reach larger as well as niche audiences, there has never been a better time to reimagine an older work.  

What kinds of re-creations and adaptations are possible for public domain works? This is a potential boon for publishers who may want to republish new editions of older works, such as a new collected series of novels or stories. It’s also fantastic for consumers of e-books, as classic works can be reproduced in multiple formats which lowers the price for these works considerably and means some are now even available for free.  

TV, film or theatre producers can also freely use a literary work to remake or adapt it. This is nothing new when we think of the multiple film versions of titles like Dracula, Sherlock Holmes or the great TV adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels.  

These old stories can spin out new versions with different storylines using the famous characters. We only need to think of the many different versions and stories that Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes has inspired. 

Indeed, where would an entertainment company like Disney be today if it hadn’t adapted classic works, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, Pinocchio, or more recently Beauty and the Beast or the Little Mermaid?  

Public domain works are there for the taking, and Disney’s adaptations of these much older stories has led to huge commercial success. 

There are no limits to creative reimagining when it comes to public domain work! One of the more surprising adaptions is the reworking of George Orwell’s Animal Farm into a mobile phone game.  

Territorial rights 

One important aside before you dive into using your favourite public domain work - do be aware the length of copyright can vary between countries. Intellectual property rights are territorial by country so you will have some variances in length depending on the country’s own copyright laws. For example, some works may be out of copyright in the US but not yet in the UK. 

A summary of the various time spans by country can be found here. Don’t forget to watch out for format too. There may be differences in copyright length depending on whether the content is print, recorded sound, visual or music. 

What’s free for 2025 in the UK? 

Drum roll please. Here are my favourite copyright freebies for the UK this year… 

There are two major artists, one photographer, and one author.  

Up first is Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. Her visually stunning and painfully personal works have gained a worldwide reputation in their own right. Therefore, it is indeed timely that a new generation are now able to reimagine, remake and even expand Kahlo’s vision into new creations. 

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) - Frida Kahlo

Another famous name in early modern art is Henri Matisse, whose work is also copyright free for 2025. Matisse was a painter, printmaker and sculptor, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern art. His work is readily identifiable by its bold colours and expressive brushwork. I predict a Matisse revival this year as reprints and remakes of all kinds are made and sold. 

Image: Kevin Snow

Images from one of the most famous names in photojournalism, Robert Capa, are also now copyright free. Capa’s work captured some of the most significant conflicts of the twentieth century. His work documenting the Spanish Civil War, Second World War and his work for Magnum Photos will live on as iconic images of the 20th Century for centuries to come.  

Lastly, the work of British author J.B Priestley, who was a novelist, playwright and essayist, best known for his play An Inspector Calls, enters the public domain this year. His essays and novels may well become widely read again, and it won’t surprise me to see his plays back on stage, perhaps in new and different forms. 

Of course, these are just some of the most famous names. If you’re looking for new public domain material, have a look for anyone who died in 1954 who is still well-known today (or perhaps should be better known) and if they created anything of enduring interest. There’ll be a very good chance their work is copyright free to use in the UK.  

So for 2025, happy hunting for treasures, known and hidden, with this year’s great copyright giveaway! 

- Written by Jeremy O’Hare. 

Don't forget to sign up for our monthly introduction to copyright webinar. You can also find regular webinar introductions to Intellectual Property here.

As we step into an exciting new year at the Business & IP Centre, we’re excited to continue supporting entrepreneurs from all backgrounds in starting, protecting and growing their businesses nationwide. But before we dive in, let’s take a moment to take a look back on our highlights of 2024.

A year of inspiring events

We were thrilled to hold four Inspiring Entrepreneurs events throughout the year, with over 450 attendees joining us in person for panel discussions on topics including the influence of Black voices in the British music scene, the significant contributions of women in the health and fitness industries, the rise of influencers transforming their online presence into income and a fireside chat with TV Dragon Sara Davies MBE. We are excited for another year of events and to welcome even more people through our doors, you can keep an eye on our schedule here.

The London Network expands

In the summer we launched a new BIPC in Enfield's Edmonton Green Library, with guests including our Chief Librarian Liz Jolly plus new BIPC Enfield business ambassador and founder of Own The Beach, Lisa Johnson. This is part of our BIPC local offering that brings our business support services to the heart of six London boroughs, also including Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth.

It was another year of achievements for these BIPC Locals. To name just a few, a huge congratulations to Bromley, Greenwich and Wandsworth on their annual GLL Start-up Business Week which involved a series of panel talks with the likes of Harry Redknapp, to Lewisham on their second anniversary and involvement at The Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards, and to Waltham Forest for their annual Winter Market that showcased products from small businesses to the local community.

Activity across the National Network

2024 was a very busy year across our National Network of BIPCs. Regional centres across the country offered packed schedules of support programmes, expert advice, photography and videography opportunities, workshops, masterclasses, and so much more. There were many successes across for each and every one of our National Network centres, but to just name a few we want to congratulate BIPC Sussex on proudly launching their new BIPC Local in Worthing, BIPC Glasgow on the appointment of the Network's first expert in residence on menopause, Dana Drzikova, and BIPC Oxfordshire on hosting the UK's largest Start-up Huddle monthly event, which regularly attracts over 100 attendees.

A special mention must go to BIPC Liverpool, which was forced to relocate out of the Spellow Library following the riots in August. However, they were able to continue services by taking to the high street and offering direct in-person support to businesses. Fortunately, they have now been able to resume services in the renovated Spellow Library, even more integrated into the local business community than before. 

Our free BIPC services could be available on your doorstep. Find your nearest centre here.

Celebrating women entrepreneurs

We proudly hosted an awards ceremony during National Women’s Enterprise Week (NWEW) to celebrate the inspiring finalists of the Women’s Launch Lab incubator programme. Founded by BIPC Ambassador Alison Cork MBE, NWEW supports women entrepreneurs through addressing challenges and promoting equity.

Our start-up support continues

Over the year, we hosted more than 70 Kickstart Your Business workshops in both the British Library and our BIPC Locals across London. Supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co, we look forward to continuing to provide grass roots business support and expert start-up advice to aspiring entrepreneurs through libraries throughout the capital.

"The workshops were extremely inspiring and they've helped me focus on the next steps towards my business idea becoming a reality" - Kickstart Your Business programme participant

You can register for the free workshops now.

Championing business growth

Credit: Luca Sage

Our Get Ready for Business Growth scale-up programme, funded by Arts Council England, wrapped up in September, having supported an incredible 203 creative businesses across the last two years of delivery. The programme offers a free, three-month long online course of tailored consultancy to scale-ups and will be relaunching this Spring for businesses in all sectors, so contact [email protected] if you’d like to find out more!

"I feel as if I have been picked up, shaken out and stood on my feet again ready to face [the year ahead] knowing where I'm headed and how to get there." – Sarah McCartney, Founder of 4160Tuesdays, Get Ready for Business Growth alumni 

Start-up Day returns in person

Credit: Abi Oshodi

We ended the year on a high when we welcomed hundreds of aspiring and current entrepreneurs to the British Library to celebrate Start-up Day 2024, in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. With a packed schedule of talks from industry leaders such as Charlie Bigham and Martha Keith, speed mentoring from experts, and plenty of networking, attendees left inspired and energised to take the next step on their business journey. We even had a special recorded address from Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which celebrated the power of libraries as hubs for fostering entrepreneurial spirit and success.

Credit: A Smile A Day Photography

Start-up Day wasn't just celebrated in London, but across our BIPC national network. From Newcastle to Worthing, 17 of our regional centres put on livestreams, in-person events, panels, mentoring, photography and so much more. It was brilliant to see our BIPC community coming together and a real testament to the breadth and depth of BIPC services across the country.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make 2024 such an inspiring and eventful year. Here's to 2025!