Resources and facilities
Our Business & IP Centre in the Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library and six BIPC Locals around Norfolk can help you conduct your own business research.
You'll find the main collection of business resources in our regional centre at the Millennium Library. However, they all have access to free-to-use PCs as well as collections of business books and access to online databases.
Library staff are on hand to help you log in to our business databases.
If you would like to arrange a session with a member of BIPC Norfolk to be shown how to best use our database subscriptions, please email [email protected]
Online publications
You can search for business publications in the library catalogue and reserve items to collect at your nearest branch.
We also have a wide range of business eBooks available. You can download and read these on your computer, smartphone, tablet or e-reader.
Free database subscriptions
BIPC Norfolk provides free access to a great selection of online subscriptions. These provide up-to-date business information, including market research, grants and company reports.
To find out how to access them please visit our Online Library Resources page.
Accessible from library and non-library computers:
- GrantFinder - leading funding database in the UK covering local, national and international sources of funding
Accessible from library computers only:
- COBRA (Complete Business Reference Adviser) - information covering all aspects of starting and running a business in a wide range of industries
- IBISWorld - industry market research, reports and statistics
- Kompass EasyBusiness - powerful B2B data search platform
- Statista - insights and facts across 170 industries and 150+ countries
Which database provides the information I'm looking for?
Start-up business support and general business information
COBRA
COBRA provides access to a broad range of information covering the essentials of starting and running a business in the UK.
If you're looking to take the first steps on your business journey, use COBRA's 'Business Opportunity Profiles' to gather the essential information on a multitude of different business ideas.
For existing businesses, COBRA can provide the latest know-how through their 'Sector Updates', plus a host of further resources including business events and a legal library.
Use COBRA as the starting point to find the business information you need.
Available at all Norfolk libraries, to find out how to access COBRA, visit our Online Library Resources page.
Latest market research, industry information and statistical projections
IBISWorld
IBISWorld marries data and graphs with detailed insight and context.
It provides a neat package to explore the latest analysis on the performance and projections of UK industries and sectors through their 'Industry reports'.
You can also gauge the latest implications of COVID and Brexit through their 'Impact' tool
To find out how to access IBISWorld, visit our Online Library Resources page.
Statista
Statista is the home for all-matters statistics related and more
Whether on a national or international level, Statista provides you with the data on the business topics that matter to you.
From over 170 industries and 150 countries, find specific data and infographics assets, collated stats and projections, as well as the latest insights in market, consumer and ecommerce information.
To find out how to access Statista, visit our Online Library Resources page.
Individual company listings and local area data
Kompass
Kompass hosts a slick interface to search individual company and market listings in specific regions from over 70 different countries.
Find new partners and customers through their B2B data.
To find out how to access Kompas, visit our Online Library Resources page.
Grant and funding opportunities
GRANTfinder
GRANTfinder is the database to use for searching the latest funding avenues available to meet your specific business needs. Use the search engine on the database, view your results and export a report with all the grant options relevant to you.
To find out how to access GrantFinder, visit our Online Library Resources page.
