How can you protect your intellectual property and uncover the invisible wealth within your knowledge?

What are the most common mistakes when it comes to protecting intellectual property?

Liz Ward is an intellectual property specialist. The former chemist retrained as a lawyer and has been running her firm, Virtuoso Legal, since 2007. She takes us through some critically important "need to knows" when it comes to protecting your intellectual property (IP) and what to do if you accidentally infringe somebody else's.

How do you value your IP? What is one of the essential ingredients of a patent? How can you uncover the invisible wealth within your knowledge? Should you use AI-generated legal agreements, and what are the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on IP and the creative industries?

Liz also covers interesting developments in cyber-squatting and Companies House tightening up its due diligence. Plus ownership of IP you create with partners and suppliers.

This episode includes many actionable insights from Liz and you can learn more from her in her book, "If You're So Clever, Why Aren't You Rich? 10 Ways to Take Your IP to the Bank", her podcast, and at www.virtuosolegal.com

Also on the show: my round up of funding opportunities and events

• The UK Shared Prosperity Fund Low Carbon Project: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/business/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-low-carbon-project
• The Yorkshire Content Fund: https://www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/content-funding
• The Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious public engagement grants: https://raeng.org.uk/programmes-and-prizes/programmes/uk-grants-and-prizes/ingenious-public-engagement-grants-scheme/
• The British Business Bank's Business Finance Week: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/news-and-events/events/business-finance-week
• Sheffield Live! at 25 – Birthday Celebration and Fundraiser: https://web.sheffieldlive.org/sheffield-live-at-25-celebration-and-fundraiser/

What next?

• Listen to the episode and let me know what you think
• Visit Liz's website, www.virtuosolegal.com
• Contact me to nominate yourself or someone else as a potential guest for this show, telling me why there's a good fit (our audience: curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs running businesses which make a positive impact for people, places or planet. Our priorities: inspiration and practical, actionable tips).

This is episode 399 of the Business Live radio show, for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs. Thanks for listening to the programme and to Sheffield Live! for broadcasting us on DAB and FM radio.

Alex Cousins makes dice trays from reclaimed materials. Every one is different, they can be engraved or embossed and feature bespoke materials and finishing.

I popped down to Ed’s Workshop, a wonderful workplace and community of makers in Sheffield to meet Alex and learn more about his new business, Wolven Crafts.

He tells me how, when playing Dungeons and Dragons, dice often fall off the table – so a dice tray is invaluable. He's used a £500 grant to help bring his business vision to life.

Alex successfully applied for funding from the SWEF Enterprise Fund at South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF). This enabled him to use the fantastic facilities at Ed's Workshop, which includes embedded support and is a family business.

Alex is joined in this interview by his mentor Gayle Brogan from Opportunity Sheffield. Gayle has been working with Alex, who is autistic, since November 2023 in her role as a senior project support officer.

Kim of Ed's Workshop joins us too. I was blown away by the wonderful atmosphere and facilities there.

Alex also covers his prototyping and how a local gaming shop, Patriot Games Sheffield, has been so supportive and helpful to him in testing his dice trays.

What next?

• Listen to the episode and let me know what you think
• Visit the South Yorkshire Community Foundation website, https://www.sycf.org.uk/
• Learn more about Opportunity Sheffield, the employment and skills service in Sheffield City Council, https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/campaigns/opportunity-sheffield
• Visit the Ed's Workshop website, https://edsworkshop.co.uk/
• Contact me to nominate yourself or someone else as a potential guest for this show, telling me why there's a good fit (our audience: curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs running businesses which make a positive impact for people, places or planet. Our priorities: inspiration and practical, actionable tips).

This is episode 398 of the Business Live radio show, for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs. Thanks for listening to the programme and to Sheffield Live! for broadcasting us on DAB and FM radio.

Many households want to install renewable energy technology – but the market doesn''t serve them well, says serial innovator Barry James.

But his "Green Streets Club" has already enabled homes on his own residential street in Sheffield to halve the cost of adoption of solar and battery.

Barry explains how they've done it – and other households can too.

He also covers his plans for a UK-wide network of Green Streets Hubs, social enterprises (community interest companies) that he says would support the transition to green energy, and revitalise high streets, support small businesses and empower tradespeople.

Barry explains his financial model for Green Streets Club and covers his panel of advisors which includes the economist and author, Ann Pettifor, and Professor Andrew Crossland of the Durham Energy Institute.

Plus a call for a small business to pilot a new iteration of Green Streets Club to support its employees.

What next?

• Listen to the episode and let me know what you think
• Visit Barry's Green Streets Club website, https://greenstreets.club
• Contact me to nominate yourself or someone else as a potential guest for this show, telling me why there's a good fit (our audience: curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs running businesses which make a positive impact for people, places or planet. Our priorities: inspiration and practical, actionable tips).

This is episode 397 of the Business Live radio show, for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs. Thanks for listening to the programme and to Sheffield Live! for broadcasting us on DAB and FM radio.