The Government has announced its decision on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hertfordshire, confirming it will create four new unitary councils, subject to parliamentary approval. 

This means that from 1 April 2028 new authorities will take over responsibility for delivering the services currently provided by the county council and the district and borough councils in that area.  

The new unitary authorities will be: 

• West Hertfordshire - serving the communities of the existing Dacorum Borough Council and St Albans City & District Council
• South West Hertfordshire - serving the communities of the existing Hertsmere Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council
• Central Hertfordshire - serving the communities of the existing North Herts Council (minus five district council wards), Stevenage Borough Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (minus the Northaw & Cuffley borough council ward)
• East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne - serving the communities of the existing Broxbourne Borough Council and East Herts District Council, plus the Northaw & Cuffley borough council ward from the existing Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council area and Royston Heath, Royston Palace, Royston Meridian, Ermine, Weston and Sandon district council wards from North Herts Council.

Outlining the reasons behind its decision, the Government said that the four unitary council model reflects Hertfordshire’s distinct economic areas, the connection to local communities, a tailored approach to services and provides a strong foundation for devolution in Hertfordshire.

All councils in Hertfordshire remain committed to ensuring residents continue to receive high-quality services now and in the future.

Elections to the new authorities will take place in May 2027. These elected councillors will help set up the new councils and operate in a “shadow” capacity ahead of the new authorities being established on 1 April 2028.

Councillors have voted to set up a new parish council to cover central St Albans.

The decision by last month's meeting of Full Council was prompted by plans to reorganise local government across Hertfordshire. 

St Albans City Centre Parish Council will cover an area containing around 28,000 households that was previously unparished. 

Parish councils give communities a local voice and can be responsible for delivering grassroots services like allotments, green spaces and public toilets.

The recommendation follows a Community Governance Review (CGR) by St Albans City and District Council which examined parish and town council arrangements across the District.

There will be elections for 25 Councillors in May next year. The Parish Council is expected to take responsibility for some grassroot services.

A shadow Parish Council is being formed to handle preparatory work such as developing a constitution and governance structure. 

You can find out more about the CGR and the recommendations at the link below.

With energy costs continuing to impact businesses, more organisations across St Albans District are turning to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels as a practical way to reduce bills, improve energy resilience and cut carbon emissions.

Solar PV has become increasingly cost-effective, making it an attractive option for businesses with suitable roof space, warehouses, offices, industrial units and even car parks. Generating electricity on-site can help protect against future energy price rises, while any surplus power may be exported to the grid.

Solar panels can also enhance a company's environmental credentials, helping meet corporate sustainability goals and responding to growing customer expectations for climate action.

If you've been considering renewable energy for your premises, now could be a good time to explore the potential of your building. Even if you're unsure whether solar is suitable, a feasibility assessment can help identify likely costs, savings and carbon reductions.

Finding and keeping talented employees is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today.

Join Hertfordshire Growth Hub, in partnership with Dacorum Borough Council, for this practical, fully funded workshop, bringing together leading experts to share straightforward advice on attracting, recruiting and retaining great people.

You’ll leave with practical ideas to help you:

• Attract the right candidates.
• Strengthen your employer brand.
• Improve recruitment and onboarding.
• Retain talented employees.
• Build a positive workplace culture.
• Access local business support.

Date: Wednesday 23 September 2026 from 09:00-15:00
Venue: The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN

Book your fully funded place today.

The Better Business for All (BBfA) Conference 2026 is taking place on 18 September from 09:30 to 15:00. Taking place at Robertson House, Stevenage, join for a day of networking and discovering the work of Hertfordshire regulators.

You’ll have the opportunity to network and learn about:

• The work of Hertfordshire regulators, including key legislation, priorities for 2026, and how each area supports local businesses
• The future of regulatory services following Local Government Reorganisation
• Business perspectives – how organisations are responding to new regulations and a changing operating environment

The University of Hertfordshire is looking for businesses to attend their upcoming events this autumn. Access the links below to register your business and talk to students about potential job opportunities!

The Part-Time Jobs Fair is taking place on Wednesday 30 September at College Lane Campus. This free to attend event will provide an opportunity for employers to promote and talent spot for paid part-time jobs.

The University of Hertfordshire is continuing to deliver the Help to Grow: Management programme - a practical leadership course designed specifically for Subject Matter Expert business leaders looking to improve performance, build resilience and support long-term growth. The programme is 90% government funded, making it an affordable investment in your business.

Over 100 SME leaders have already completed the programme with the University of Hertfordshire, benefiting from:

• Practical leadership and management training that can be applied immediately
• A blend of online and face-to-face learning designed to fit around work commitments
• 10 hours of one-to-one mentoring from an experienced business mentor
• A tailored Growth Action Plan to help turn ideas into action
• The opportunity to connect with a network of like-minded business leaders and continue learning through the alumni community.

The programme is ideal for senior leaders from UK businesses with 5–249 employees that have been operating for at least one year.

The next cohort starts on 17 September 2026, and they would love to welcome more local businesses to the programme.

The government is forming a new strategic partnership with the EU on the trade and movement of plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food. This is called a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. Businesses need to be ready!

Defra has published new information to support businesses in preparing for the upcoming UK-EU SPS Agreement. While the details of an Agreement are subject to negotiations, these resources are designed to help businesses understand forthcoming requirements and take practical steps towards readiness. 

There are links for different market sectors; an overview for each area is available at the button below.

These changes mean that businesses will need to follow relevant EU rules for food standards, safety, labelling and regulated products. This applies whether or not they trade directly with the EU and could take place as early as mid-2027.

The Herts Responsible Food Award celebrates businesses that offer healthier food choices and adopt sustainable practices.

Earning the award is a great way to stand out, build trust with customers, and be recognised for doing the right thing. Any Hertfordshire food business that prepares and serves food directly to customers with a hygiene rating of 4 or 5 is eligible to apply

Restaurants, cafes and takeaways supporting local health and sustainability can apply for a Herts Responsible Food Award today below.

Wenta is hosting a session on 20 August on how mindset impacts businesses. Join a free webinar to explore the mindset shifts that separate thriving small businesses from stalled ones. This session helps you spot limiting beliefs, build resilience, and develop the daily habits that compound into long-term success. Practical tools for fear, failure, habits and daily resilience are included.

Ideas Fest is taking place on 9 and 10 September at Champneys, Tring, welcoming more than 200 speakers and over 6,000 attendees from across the UK business community. Ideas Fest brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, founders, investors, creators and business leaders for two days of inspiring talks, networking and collaboration.

Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal is hosting a variety of Skills Bootcamps which can benefit your business. These short courses are funded and flexible to allow you to develop practical skills and achieve your business goals.

You can explore the full range of bootcamps at the button below.