Hertfordshire leaders have launched an ambitious vision for sustainable growth that will benefit residents, businesses and communities across Hertfordshire.

To achieve this ambition, six core missions have been identified:

• A World Class Economy
• Digital Access for All
• Transport for Hertfordshire
• Sustainable County
• Healthy and Safe Places for All
• Right Homes Right Places

On the missions, the Growth Board has stated “Hertfordshire is a thriving, ambitious and forward-thinking county. These qualities underpin our shared Vision for making our economy, communities and places even stronger and the six Missions that will deliver the widest benefits for us all”.

Hertfordshire Film Office (HFO) has officially launched its website to act as a gateway for productions looking to film in the county and promote the value of the multi-billion sector to the rest of the UK. 

Hertfordshire is now a leading destination in the UK for film and TV - home to a world class cluster of renowned studios, on a par with Hollywood. There are currently 13 major film studios around the capital, with all but two either in southwest Herts or west of London. Elstree Film Studios is the oldest studio in the county and the only set of studios owned by a local authority – Hertsmere Borough Council.

Powered by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) with funding from Hertfordshire Growth Board and district councils, the Film Office is testament to how local government is working with the creative sector to make it easier to do business here.

HFO provides a one-stop-shop service to support all film and TV-related activity across the county. It positions Hertfordshire as the premiere filming destination of choice in the UK, offering a bespoke concierge service to help location managers and production companies to quickly and conveniently source film locations, crew, industry suppliers, highway filming permits and more.

Hertfordshire County Council is working with small and medium sized businesses from the private and voluntary sectors to lead the way to healthier workplaces in Hertfordshire. The Herts Healthy Workplace accredited programme will address any health concerns in the workplace by offering personalised advice, support and training to help make the changes you need for a healthier and happier workplace. 

Free Webinars

Learn more and drop in to one of our webinars:

• Register now for Monday 18 March 2024 13:00-13:30
• Register now for Thursday 21 March 2024 13:00-13:30

You can also find out more about the programme and register by visiting www.hertshealthyworkplace.org.uk.   

Any questions? Contact workplace.health@hertfordshire.gov.uk

The Home Office is conducting a consultation targeted at organisations, businesses, local and public authorities, and individuals who own or operate publicly accessible premises or events that the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will potentially affect.

It seeks views from those responsible for smaller premises which would fall within the standard tier.

The Bill will impose requirements in relation to certain premises and events to increase their preparedness for, and protection from, a terrorist attack by requiring them to take proportionate steps, depending on the size and nature of the activities that take place at the premises.

The proposed requirements would apply to those responsible for qualifying public premises and qualifying public events. They might be individuals but, in most cases, would be a business or other organisation.

STANTA runs the Get Enterprising (GE) Programme giving up to 12 hours of advice and training – at no cost to your business.

Eligibility to join Get Enterprising:

• Live or work in postcodes AL1-5 (including Bricket Wood, London Colney, Redbourn, Harpenden, Wheathampstead, Sandridge, Colney Heath etc).
• Business age under 5 years.
• Business registered with HMRC or Companies House or not yet registered.

The 12 hours of support might consist of:

• 2-hour business advice meeting with an experienced business adviser.
• Assistance with registering the business with HMRC and Companies House.
• Attend Business Planning workshop (5 hours).

Topics covered are:

• Understand the process of creating a business plan from research, through to preparing, to implementation.
• Understand key strategy issues.
• Develop a marketing plan.
• Understand key financial data.
• Cash flow, profit and loss.

To find out more and sign up for business advice, follow the link below:

Discover how Hertfordshire is leading the way in making homes warmer and more energy efficient.

Join the Driving Greener Homes – Breakfast Retrofit Summit on Wednesday 20 March at 08:30, where Hertfordshire LEP, Oaklands College, and CITB will share their plans to develop skills and increase construction job opportunities. Find out how you can access funding and actively participate in building a greener homes economy that benefits everyone - from tradespeople to businesses.

Find out more information and book a place on the event here or via the button below.

If you're interested in offering a retrofit product or service, funds are available to help you develop and support your business, click the link to fill in a quick form to find out more here.

Friday 15 March 2024 09:00-12:00

Hertfordshire Growth Hub has partnered with Rachel Steele of Huddle to bring you an interactive in-person workshop designed to help support diversity and inclusion in the workplace to improve business recruitment and retention.

Attend this workshop to:

• Improve your understanding of what is meant by diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Learn more about the benefits of a diverse workplace
• Gain practical tips about improving diversity and inclusion in your business

To sign up for this free event, click on the link below:

St Albans City and District Council is seeking views on its community safety priorities for 2024-2027.

The St Albans Community Safety Partnership is a statutory group of agencies including the Council, Police, Fire Service and Police & Crime Commissioner that work together to tackle crime and disorder.

The Partnership has developed a strategy for the coming year and this survey seeks residents' views on whether the Partnership's priorities are correct and how they should be tackled. It gives residents an opportunity to share views on crime and anti-social behaviour in the District and to highlight problems that need to be addressed. It will support the development of action plans for the Community Safety Partnership in 2024-27.

The survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. Closing date 31 March.

A new sustainability and climate crisis strategy for St Albans District has been launched with the aim of achieving net zero by 2030 .

The 2024-2027 strategy sets out measures to cut harmful emissions and improve the local environment.

St Albans City and District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and produced a strategy with more than 100 actions for 2020 to 2023.

Last year, Councillors also declared a sustainability and biodiversity emergency, recognising the urgent need to protect and enhance nature.

Now the Planning Policy and Climate Committee has approved an updated strategy to progress all this vital work.

The strategy includes further initiatives to improve the sustainability of the Council’s own operations and services with its emissions having been cut by 52% since 2009.

It also sets out commitments and proposals to:

• Boost the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings around the District.
• Promote active and sustainable transport to improve air quality.
• Reduce waste, encourage recycling and campaign for sustainable food production.
• Enhance the natural environment and allow biodiversity to flourish.
• Conserve precious water resources and ease flooding risks.

St Albans Greener Together will be launched soon with the aim of helping residents, schools, community groups and businesses find solutions to environmental issues.

The sustainability and climate crisis strategy for 2024/27 can be viewed in full here and a detailed list of the actions to be undertaken by the Council is available here.