Drone business flies high thanks to council initiative

Back in 2019, Oxford-based William Arinze made a vow he would quit his job and launch his own business.

Two years later, he kept his promise with support from Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC).

Now that his business, The Drone Rules, is thriving, 32 year old William is encouraging others to consider the BIPC to help turn their business ideas into reality.

Inspired by his Nigerian-born mother who was one of the first female aeronautical engineers in her town, William wanted to capitalise on his background in aerospace and astronautics engineering to create a business that centres on changing the world for the better through aerial technology – drones.

He said: “I had been working for an Oxford University spinout, having spent five years as a flight simulation engineer, building simulators and travelling the world to test them, but I had promised myself I would start my own business.

“The drone industry is a fast paced and rapidly growing market. This is because drones offer incredible value if used correctly – anything from aerial photography to delivering medical supplies at hospitals. There are so many opportunities with these incredible flying robots!”

William first came into contact with the team at the BIPC when he was offering free services at Oxford Westgate Library.

As he explains, “I quit my job in 2021, and I then began to offer free services to the library in the form of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) drone workshops. These were STEM based coding classes for young people.

“I was then introduced by a library manager to the BIPC management as she saw that I was keen to develop STEM workshops for young people.”

William was one of the first people to use the popular start-up networking huddles, which are now one of the most well attended of its kind in the country and has utilised almost every resource available.

“I have used almost everything at the centre to help my business, including the databases on offer, photography and lighting equipment, the green screen background, the meeting rooms for client discussions, and even the main room for various STEM sessions.”

Thanks to the help on offer at BIPC, William’s business is now thriving, providing educational and consultancy services to a range of different organisations.

“I have managed to branch the business out into two main areas: education and consultancy. “Drone City provides further development of STEM by inspiring young people (key stage one to two) through all mediums of education through practical sessions utilising our very own story books, online resources and STEM drones

“Meanwhile, Droneworxx (key stage two to post-16) helps with the development of careers by inspiring those aged 12 - 21 and over by offering programmes, workshops and practical sessions to help young adults to succeed in the world of autonomous aviation.

“The Drone Rules is the parent company for both Drone City and Droneworxx and is also helping businesses and organisations across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties adopt drone solutions including NHS, Oxfordshire County Council, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus and Oxford Business Park.

“I would strongly recommend anybody who is thinking about starting their own business to attend a meeting with the BIPC for a one to one, or join one of the start-up huddles, and gain insights into taking the leap into developing your idea into a viable business.

“You may feel ready to fly, but learning about the financial, administrative, and business planning frameworks may help make the ride a little less bumpy!”

Ryan Johnson, Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, said: “The Drone Rules is just another example of a small Oxfordshire startup that has benefited from the expertise and resources on offer at the BIPC.

“It’s always great to hear these success stories, and I hope to hear many more.

"The BIPC offers various free resources, including free business advice and mentoring from our team, networking events, database access, meeting spaces, and equipment. It's the perfect place to bring your business idea to life.”

Located in the Oxford Westgate Library, the centre provides a range of services, resources and activities for start-ups. Individuals can benefit from one on one support or attend workshops designed to help develop their business ideas.

A monthly startup huddle is held to provide a free opportunity for individuals to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, share knowledge, experience and ideas, and grow their businesses.

The BIPC was recognised by the national Libraries Connected awards back in June 2023, winning the children’s award for its work engaging hundreds of new youth participants aged eight to 25 in enterprising activities.

The centre is part of the British Library's national network of business and intellectual property centres, which aim to transform the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

Find out more about what’s on offer and what support is available by visiting the Business and Intellectual Property Centre’s website.

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