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Business resources

Business information and business support

Four essential, industry-leading online resources to support your business growth are accessible either in libraries or from anywhere through your library membership. Due to licensing restrictions, some resources are available in specific libraries only. We recommend phoning ahead of your visit.

To discuss your business information requirements, contact Oxfordshire Libraries' Ask a Librarian information service with full details of your enquiry.

Start and grow your own business in Oxfordshire. The Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) has opened at Oxfordshire County Library. With start-up workshops and activities, co-working space, 1:1 business information sessions, market research databases, photography marketing suite, hybrid presentation equipment and lots more… all accessible for free.

British Standards Online

Full-text access to current, historic, and draft standards produced by the British Standards Institution (BSI). Includes c.40,000 current British, European, and International standards, covering products and services. Updated daily.

Covering every area of life from technical guidelines for production processes in a diverse range of industries to specifications. Codes of best practice that improve safety, efficiency, interoperability, and facilitate trade.

The subscription allows reading onscreen only.

Available on computers in libraries

COBRA – the Complete Business Reference Advisor

Used by thousands of business advisers to help people into self-employment and invaluable for existing small business owners and start-ups COBRA has reliable, practical content that explains regulations, trading issues, opportunities and developments in over 550 small business trades and sectors.

Available on computers in libraries and from home

IBISWorld

Independent and comprehensive research on more than 400 UK industries. Use data and analysis to understand market size, assess competitors, draft business plans and pitches, make forecasts and perform due diligence. Includes:

  • Industry Reports
  • Brexit Impact Statements
  • Specialized Industry Reports
  • Business Environment Profiles

Find out more

Available initially through the Ask a Librarian information service and to customers in Oxfordshire County Library and Bicester Library 

FAME

The definitive source of over 4 million active companies in the UK and Ireland with information on around 13 million private companies.

Use powerful functions including matching companies to your own profile; checking credit scores and identifying business contacts.

Available through the Ask a Librarian information service and to customers in Oxfordshire County Library. We strongly recommend contacting Ask a Librarian to discuss your requirements first unless you are an existing FAME user.