Calling all inventors to ideas central

Wannabe inventors and innovators are invited to a special event at Central Library, which could hold the key to unlocking their potential and making their entrepreneurial dreams a reality.

Ideas Day will take place on Tuesday 21 October at Manchester's Central Library and will offer top tips from the experts to anyone with a bright idea.

Advice will include information on patents, sources of funding, copyright and trademarks as well as offering the chance to meet other inventors who have been helped by Manchester Library and Information Service over the years.

Inventors such as Jayne Lawton were helped along the road to success by Manchester Libraries, after she came along to their monthly Patents Clinic with her idea for the Grobox, an ethical and biodegradable packaging solution for lazy gardeners not wanting to get their hands dirty. Jayne, from Hyde, has since won numerous awards for her invention including the British Female Innovator of the Year 06 and the UK Packaging Award, and will be on hand at Ideas Day to discuss the process from initial concept to award winning business.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council said: "Advice on business ideas and inventions is not something people usually associate with their local library service but in reality we've been helping people for more than a decade. Manchester Libraries are very much at the heart of the city's communities and are sources of all sorts of information. If anyone has got a big idea they think they can make a success of then I would encourage them to come along to Ideas Day as it might just offer the advice or networking opportunity they need."

Ideas Day will take place on Tuesday 21 October 9.15am - 6.00pm, although attending the full day is optional.

The morning session 9.15am - 12.00pm offers a free interactive workshop with speakers from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) talking about the importance of protecting the intellectual property of a business.

The afternoon session begins at 1.00pm with a short talk by Clive Grunsell from the North West Development Agency speaking on the topic, R & D Funding Opportunities, followed by the main presentation by Mark Sheahan, President of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors and the British Library Inventor in Residence on the A-Z of Inventing.

There will then be the chance to meet some already successful inventors and for anyone needing further information free confidential advice from a patent attorney or business adviser can be arranged until 6.00pm.

Ideas Day, 21 October, Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester

Ideas Day is supported by MIDAS and the UK Intellectual Property Office.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Claire Keegan, Press Office, tel: 0161 234 4014