Start-Up & SME Hub

Welcome to our special hub page for start-up companies and small-medium enterprise businesses.

This is a space for people that are building something new and want to know how to protect it, recognising that successful companies don’t just make good intellectual property (IP) decisions – they make them early in the life of a business.

Getting your IP head on from the outset can save a lot pain in the long run and put your business on a stronger footing as it grows.

In our capacity as a patent and trade mark law firm, we work with founders and small business owners across many sectors.

We formalise their inventions in writing and we patent them. We protect their brand names. We register their designs.

This hub brings together some guidance and useful reading, including details of the ‘SH&P Pitch & Protect £10K fund’ and some organisations that you can get involved with for extra support.

Start-Up & SME Hub

Reading

Start-Up & SME Hub

10 Key Intellectual Property Questions Answered

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Start-Up & SME Hub

Should I Patent My Invention?

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Start-Up & SME Hub

The Benefits of an Intellectual Property Portfolio Audit

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Start-Up & SME Hub

UK Patent Practice – A Simple Guide

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SH&P Pitch & Protect: The £10K IP Fund

The SH&P Pitch & Protect initiative is an exclusive opportunity for one lucky start-up company or small-to-medium enterprise (SME) to secure £10,000 in funding for intellectual property support from Stevens Hewlett & Perkins. It’s free to enter – register your interest now!

Learn more
Adarsh - SH&P Pitch & Protect 2025 winner

Organisations we support

Start-Up & SME Hub

TechSPARK

TechSPARK supports the tech, digital and engineering community in the Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas.

TechSPARK
Start-Up & SME Hub

SETsquared Bristol

SETsquared Bristol support tech founders with tailored coaching, workspace and investor access.

SETsquared
Start-Up & SME Hub

Devon Women in Business

This Devon-based women boost their business skills and business confidence through women-only networking events.

Devon Women in Business
Start-Up & SME Hub

Devon Chamber

The Devon Chamber of Commerce (DC) provides a wide variety of support services supports to Devon businesses.

Devon Chamber of Commerce
Start-Up & SME Hub

Amplify Venture

Amplify Venture is a free two-year programme for founders and companies needing to expand their businesses.

Amplify Venture
Start-Up & SME Hub

Chambers Wales

Chambers Wales brings together a thriving business community committed to building a more prosperous Wales.

Chambers Wales
Start-Up & SME Hub

Capital Enterprise

Capital Enterprise is a UK-based non-profit membership network for accelerating early-stage tech start-ups.

Capital Enterprise
Start-Up & SME Hub

Tramshed Tech

Tramshed Tech supports promising Welsh tech and creative start-ups through fully-funded programmes.

Tramshed Tech

 

SETsquared logo

Meet Andrew Flaxman, who is an IP (Intellectual Property) Advisor in Residence for SETsquared Bristol members. As a SETsquared Resident, Andrew provides specialist pro-bono intellectual property services in the fields of patents and designs.

View Andrew's bio
Andrew Flaxman - SETsquared IP Resident

Financial support

Start-Up & SME Hub

SH&P Pitch & Protect: The 10K IP Fund

Register your interest to be in with a chance of winning £10,000 worth of SH&P legal expertise.

Start-Up & SME Hub

New SME Financial Support Scheme – 'IP Advance'

Start-Up & SME Hub

The 'Patent Box' - Tax Relief Explained

Forthcoming Events

We are often out and about at various networking, business meet-ups and exhibitions. If you would like to come and say 'hello', then we would love to see you! We will be at the following events:

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Small business news

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Meet SH&P

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Bob Barnes

Bob Barnes

IP Systems and Business Development Director

Andrew Flaxman

Andrew Flaxman

Patent Attorney, Partner

Emma Kirkpatrick

Emma Kirkpatrick

Trade Mark Attorney

Richard Turner

Richard Turner

Patent Attorney, Partner