Kendra Walsh

A unique ‘Human Lending Library’ has opened to allow social enterprises to borrow skills and advice from experts.

Social enterprises are businesses which use the money made to tackle social problems, improve people’s life chances, support communities and help the environment.

The British Library has launched the campaign with Expert Impact to allow social entrepreneurs to have a one hour mentoring session and advice from experts.

The Experts, which include The White Company Founder Chrissie Rucker, and Sir Charles Dunstone, Founder of Carphone Warehouse donate their knowledge and networks to help social entrepreneurs make positive change.

The British Library will run the first in a series of global ‘Human Lending Library’ franchises from its Business & IP Centre.

Isabel Oswell, Head of Business at the British Library said:

We are thrilled to work with Expert Impact to support the roll-out of their Human Lending Library.

Over 60% of our business users are motivated by making a social or environmental impact and expert mentoring is a great way to give ambitious social entrepreneurs a competitive edge.

The Human Lending Library has already connected more than 200 social enterprises to advice and initial evidence suggests that social enterprises have increased in size by an average of 58% within six months of meeting an expert.

Social entrepreneurs can apply to the Human Lending Library online: www.expertimpact.com/apply-now. Free advice is also available on YouTube: