Business and Patent information services is a comprehensive one stop service for all your business and IP information needs. We are based in the Central Library.
You can visit the Information Centre on the second floor to use our electronic resources and to make face to face enquiries. You can also use our online form to ask for business, patents and intellectual property information.
Complete Business Reference Advisor
(COBRA) is available from home or work - just enter your library membership number – the COBRA database allows you direct access to fact sheets and information on all aspects of starting up or running a business.
Or contact us by phone, fax or email using the link on this page and we will be delighted to help you with any of the following:
Setting up in business - access a wide range of Start-Up information. Check out your business ideas and business name, find out about legal requirements, research the availability of grants, qualifications and training, attend a Start-Up workshop.
Mailing lists: Target new customers with a tailor made company mailing list. Our experienced staff have access to many national and European company databases and are able to source the most appropriate database for your specific needs. These can be searched across a large range of search criteria including location, type of business, turnover, number of employees and directors names.
Company information: Increase your knowledge of key competitors and find partners for your service, product or invention. We can provide you with full company details including financial records, appointments and financial and profitability ratios.
Source suppliers of products and services. We have access to specialist databases which enable staff to source suppliers of over 52,000 products and services
Market trends: Research the potential market for your product and service. We have access to one of the largest UK collections of market research reports which analyse market size, key trends, consumer profiles, market shares and future forecasts.
Legislation: Keep up to date with business legislation, health and safety, employment law and British Standards.
Protecting your inventions, trademarks and designs:
Find out if your invention, trademark or design is new. Leeds PATLIB has built a national reputation over many years for delivering high quality services as one of the few full time patent libraries in the UK .
An effective search can be a vital first step when developing a new product or brand and can ultimately save you time and money.
We can offer access to free and specialist subscription patent and trademark databases and guidance on getting the best out of them. Our specialist staff can carry out cost effective searches on your behalf. This will enable you to search for patents which you could be infringing, check which countries these patents cover and find out if the patents are still in force.
Information service: Free booklets on patents, trademarks, registered design, copyright and how to register them are available. We can answer all of your intellectual property enquiries. Contact us to book an appointment on one of our free monthly patent clinics with a registered patent agent.
Document delivery: Rapid delivery of patent documents by email, fax or post.
Current awareness: Keep up to date with the latest intelligence from the corporate world with electronic access to thousands of business and industry journals. Stay ahead of competitors by getting regular updates of newly published patents – patent applications can be published years before a competitors product reaches the marketplace.
Our staff can provide information via phone, e-mail, fax or post. If you wish to come in person please call in to the Information Centre on the 2nd floor in the Central Library.
Opening Times
09.00 - 20.00 Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday
09.00 - 17.00 Thursday,Friday
10.00 - 17.00 Saturday
13.00 - 17.00 Sunday
Contact
Business and Patents Information Service, 2nd floor, Central Library, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3AB
Tel: 0113 2478266/5 (or 2478282 after 5 p.m., Saturdays after 1 p.m. and Sundays).
Fax: 0113 2478268
email piu@leeds.gov.uk