Libraries supporting businesses, jobseekers & consumers across Greater Manchester, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen

Ask About Business is a partnership between eleven library authorities in Greater Manchester, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen.
Led by Manchester Library & Information Service, Ask About Business provides information through libraries to support:

Pre-start and new businesses
Existing businesses
Jobseekers
Consumers
Inventors
Business students

Selling On The Web

Selling on the web

Find the presentations, notes and other resources here!

Manchester Digital Development Agency are running a series of free workshops for small businesses in Manchester.

COBRA: a free online business tool

COBRA is a practical and continually updated information resource covering all aspects of starting and running a business. From writing a business plan to expanding an existing business, COBRA contains around 4000 factsheets, market reports, contacts, and sources of funding and support to help entrepreneurs.

Ideal for anyone looking to start a business, write a business or marketing plan or conduct research into a new market, COBRA is available at any Ask About Business library with internet PCs.
But here's the really good news: you can also access this resource at home. All you need is your library ticket.

Credit checking

Being in business always involves some risk.
Don't gamble with your business!
Minimise the risks by using our free company credit check service. Everyone wants to avoid a bad debt, and setting up a good credit control system is vital for any business.

We can provide you with the information to improve the odds on your financial success:

Evaluate a company's stability
Assess whether a firm should be allowed credit
Check if a company can pay its bills
Consider payment patterns

Events in Oldham

Starting in January there's a series of FREE business-related workshops and events being offered, including:

Marketing On A Shoestring
Business Brunch
Becoming Self Employed

You can see the full programme here.

Looking for work?

Looking for work? Whether you're looking for a part-time job, or hoping to change career, libraries have lots of useful information.

Ask About Business has access to up to the minute news and business resources to:

keep yourself informed
impress poential employers
stand out from the crowd
find ways to uncover leads
give yourself the competitive edge

Getting started

Start up People the world over dream of setting up their own business and working for themselves but are often overwhelmed by the prospect.
Ask About Business has a range of resources to offer support and sign posting, whether you are setting out your stall or building your empire.

Inventors

Are you an inventor or an innovator?
Is your copyright giving you cause for concern?

Ask About Business can help!

New ideas for products or services are in great demand. As well as knowing how to develop your idea, you will need to know how to protect it.