London library programme brought business support into seven boroughs
A 2026 report documents practical courses and local advice delivered between 2023 and 2026.
News report
The British Library published an account on October 12, 2026, of business support delivered through public libraries in seven London boroughs. Kickstart Your Business ran between May 2023 and June 2026, offering a free two-day introduction to starting a business alongside local advice, workshops and networks.
The participating boroughs were Bromley, Camden, Enfield, Greenwich, Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth. The approach used existing library settings to bring support closer to people exploring an idea or already operating a small business.
The evaluation distinguishes different measures of participation. Monitoring recorded around 8,000 people reached in some way, while 4,832 received substantive support and 1,918 attended a Kickstart workshop. Keeping those categories separate gives a clearer picture of delivery than treating every contact as the same service.
A participant survey supplied the report’s evidence about outcomes. It drew on 249 respondents, with some estimates scaled to the wider group; the findings were self-reported. The programme’s own publication also describes individual experiences of courses, mentoring and help with developing a business.
The completed delivery period provides a concrete example of libraries hosting economic as well as cultural services. The courses offered an entry point, while borough centres supplied continuing contacts and activities. The report’s most direct finding is that practical business support reached people through neighbourhood facilities they could already use, connecting an introductory course with a wider local support network.
