Information and Reference Services
Business Information Service
Solihull Libraries' Business Information Service has a range of information sources online and in print, to help support local businesses, or to help you if you're starting up in business. Some of the sources can be used in the office or at home any time of day or night.
It's based at Solihull Central Library, but you can contact us by phone or email, and with your library card, you can access some resources on your own computer, smartphone, or tablet through the Virtual Reference Library.
It's free to join the library if you don't already have a library card.
We also have a list of helpful business websites you can use for other support and information.
For more information contact: Gary Archer (0121 704 6921)
E-mail: infols@solihull.gov.uk
| Other support |
Business and Social Media coursesDiscover how to market your business online with courses in May 2013, all held at Solihull Central Library.
Courses are £30 per person per workshop, payable in advance. Please ask in the library if you wish to book. Register now to receive information on all forthcoming Business courses run by Solihull Library & Information Service (this does not commit you to any particular course.) |
New! Solihull eMagazine service from Zinio
Using your library card, you can now access the Zinio eMagazine service completely free.
You can read full digital copies of any of the 60 magazines available from your computer, smartphone or tablet, wherever you are. You can see the latest editions of key titles such as Business Traveller, New Scientist and Newsweek, along with computer magazines such as .Net, MacWorld and Android Magazine.
A full list is available at the side of this page, along with a guide on how to sign up.
You may need to download the Zinio app which is available free for Apple, Android and home computers. Access Zinio eMagazine service here
If you are a new user, click on Create Account and enter your library card number with the SLP included.
You can also access UK newspapers through UK Newsstand - 68 National and local newspapers, from the Daily Telegraph and Guardian to the Sun and Mirror, and the Birmingham Post and Mail, and the journal New Statesman.
You can save your search to keep up to date with news related to your area of business, or to find out about a company or product. It has editions going back several years.
Visit the UK Newsstand website and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: http://search.proquest.com/barcode?accountid=16457&groupid=92385
Company Information
Can be used for:
- researching a company and its activities for business or job hunting
- looking for business to business opportunities (including mailing lists)
- contacting businesses over consumer issues
New! Company information from MINT and FAME
MINT
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MINT is an excellent source for mailing lists, and B2B research.
Over 5.5 million UK companies are listed including over three million active companies. Mailing lists can be created using a range of criteria including postcodes and other geographical areas, turnover, type of business, and number of employees. You can plot the company structure including shareholders, subsidiaries and corporate groups.
Information available includes:
- contact details with phone number and web address if available
- financial data for 3 years, and analyses/ratios for the company
- credit scores and ratings
- director and other contact details - you can link directly to their Linkedin profiles
- shareholder and ownership data
- access to Companies House documents
Mint UK also provides access to a wealth of information on directors including: date of birth, address, current and previous directorships and in some cases, biographical information.
Contact the library if you want more information on how to obtain mailing lists or other information - a charge is made for some services.
FAME
FAME stands for Financial Analysis Made Easy, and contains information on 3.4 million UK companies, with detailed financial information for 2.4 million of these.
Reports available include:
- contact information, in some cases with web and email addresses
- full profit and loss and balance sheets
- cash flow and ratios
- financial trends and changes
- credit scores and ratings
- director and shareholder details
- details of senior staff
- access to Companies House documents including annual returns
You can also do more analysis by creating your own ratios
Contact the library if you want more information on how to obtain mailing lists or other information - a charge is made for some services.
The Central Library also has in print:
- Kompass UK, the annual business directory with detailed product information
- Dun and Bradstreet Regional Business Registers for the area
- Company Refs, a quarterly source for investors
Setting up and running a business
COBRA - The Complete Business Reference Adviser
COBRA is the UK's most comprehensive business reference resource for start ups and established small businesses.It includes:
- Business Opportunity Profiles - over 700 business start-up profiles and guides to business start-up ideas
- Business Information Factsheets - 'how to...' and practical small business checklists, from business plans to personnel, tax to marketing
- UK Market Synopses - guides to trends and opportunities in a number of UK market sectors, with market research
- Local Area Profiles - guides to business support in 290 local areas in the UK
COBRA is available for home or office use at any time, through the Virtual Reference Library. Visit the Cobra website and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: solihull.cobwebinfo.com
Enterprise for Success
Solihull Council's Enterprise for Success scheme offers FREE business assistance and mentoring for start-ups.
Link http://www.solihullforsuccess.com/enterprise-for-success/
Other support
CANS Online
CANS Online explains British and European law clearly and simply under a full range of helpful sections, including business, tax, company law, employment, road transport, and more.
CANS Online is available for home or office use at any time, through the Virtual Reference Library. Visit the CANS Online website and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: www.cans.org.uk/index.php?id=144
If you're employing someone:
GoCitizen
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GoCitizen.co.uk is an online study resource for candidates preparing for the Life in the UK Test or British citizenship test. The service includes an online version of the latest official study materials licensed from the Home Office, the people who write the handbook, plus hundreds of practice test questions in the same format as the official test. This includes the new course materials and tests running from February 2013.
Link: http://solihull.gocitizen.co.uk/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters. This site requires registration using a valid email address.
Life in Great Britain
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Training and practice tests for the Life in the United Kingdom citizenship programme. It contains the text of chapters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Life in the UK along with a glossary, and is an excellent way to learn and assess your readiness for the test.
Go to the Life in Great Britain site, enter your library card number and you can register nto work through the training and save your place.
Link: http://www.220soft.net/solihull/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Theory Test Pro
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New - the Theory Test changed on 23 January 2012! Theory Test Pro has all the up-to-date practice questions and tests.
Theory Test Pro is a highly realistic online simulation of the UK's driving theory test. It includes large goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles, as well as cars and motorcycles. It contains the entire official practice question bank, the knowledge and understanding test, hazard perception video clips and an online version of the Highway Code. All this material is licensed from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the people who set the tests.
When you first use Theory Test Pro, you will need to register with your name, email address and password. There is no charge for this. This information allows Theory Test Pro to save your test scores so you can follow your progress as you practise for the test.
You will need a valid email address to sign up for Theory Test Pro.
Full access is available with a Solihull library card - it's free to join!
Link: http://solihull.theorytestpro.co.uk/ and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
UK Newsstand
68 National and local newspapers, from the Daily Telegraph and Guardian to the Sun and Mirror, and the Birmingham Post and Mail, and the journal New Statesman. You can save your search to keep up to date with news related to your area of business, or to find out about a company or product. It has editions going back several years.
UK Newsstand is available for home or office use at any time, through the Virtual Reference Library.
Visit the UK Newsstand website and enter your library card number with SLP in capital letters.
Link: http://search.proquest.com/barcode?accountid=16457&groupid=92385
eMoneyfacts
The online service of Moneyfacts journal. It includes market mortgage sourcing, life quotations, savings, loans and cards searches, and statistics such as the Retail Price Index since 1948
Available at Solihull Central Library only
Also available at Solihull Central Library in print:
- Complete set of UK Phone Books, Yellow Pages and Business Pages
- HM Revenue and Customs Tariff for exporters and importers
- Some specialist directories such as Retail Directory, Computer Users Yearbook and Tolleys Tax Guides
- UK Acts of Parliament
- UK statistics on economic and social trends
- Detailed local census information
- Executive Grapevine - the guide to executive recruitment consultants
Other facilities
There are internet-access computers in every library, available free for 1 hour each day and for a small charge for longer.
Libraries also can send faxes and have scanning facilities.
Meeting rooms are available for hire at Solihull Central Library, Dickens Heath Library and Olton Library