Unlocking Hertfordshire - Hertfordshire's Recovery Plan, 2020 28 August 2020 - Hertfordshire LEP
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28 August 2020 Unlocking Hertfordshire Hertfordshire’s Recovery Plan, 2020
Foreword
Over recent months, we have all become more aware of our
vulnerabilities and fragilities. We have also become far
more alert to the interconnections that shape much of what
we do – whether we ‘normally’ notice those
interdependencies or not.
COVID-19 was anticipated by no one. It has thrown many
aspects of our social and economic life into disarray.
Across Hertfordshire, businesses have had to navigate
severe disruption; individuals have seen jobs (or the
immediate prospect of jobs) disappear; and households
have been put under enormous pressure. COVID-19 has
been a public health crisis, the likes of which none of us
have seen previously. But the extent of economic
dislocation must not be forgotten. Within this, the ambitions
of many within the ‘class of 2020’ have been dealt a
particular blow.
Yet like most crises, the pandemic has also shown what we
can achieve if we work together. We have seen countless
examples of Hertfordshire’s businesses pivoting their
operations to produce whatever has been needed. We
have seen the extent to which individuals and businesses
have innovated and adapted to new circumstances and new
ways of working. We have also seen communities coming
together like never before.
Looking ahead, we need to plan a good economic recovery
for Hertfordshire. We must harness the lessons of the
pandemic and use our assets well – most immediately to
create new jobs, but also to define a trajectory for recovery
and growth that reflects our wider ambitions. In this
endeavour, we need to work with our local partners – our
local authorities (including through the Hertfordshire Growth
Board), our university and further education colleges, and
our businesses and communities.
But recognising levels of interconnectedness, we also need
to work with partners from outside Hertfordshire. This must
include our neighbouring local enterprise partnerships, and I am delighted that the southern LEPs are increasingly working together under the banner of Catalyst South. We must work with those that are further afield as we seek to advance a Five-Point Recovery Plan for across the LEP Network. In delivering our Recovery Plan, we must also work with central government, recognising that although the crisis is a national and international one, it takes particular forms in Hertfordshire and it needs effective and good local solutions. The next period will continue to be very uncertain. At this moment in time, the future path of COVID-19 is simply unknown and its full socio-economic consequences are impossible to anticipate. In addition, the next six months will be critical ones in relation to the process of EU transition. We must be alert to the opportunities and challenges that this will present. Hertfordshire has the assets and ambition to succeed. This Economic Recovery Plan marks a moment in our response – we have done a lot already, but there is still much to be done. In working together to ‘unlock Hertfordshire’, the possibilities and responsibilities are crucially important – both for local businesses, individuals and communities, and for the UK as a whole. Mark Bretton Chair, Hertfordshire LEP Chair, LEP Network August 2020
Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ i COVID-19 and Hertfordshire ............................................................................................................. 1 The task of recovery .......................................................................................................................... 4 Strategic journeys ............................................................................................................................. 7 Hertfordshire’s Economic Recovery Plan ....................................................................................... 9 Three Economic Recovery Packages ............................................................................................ 10 Two Transformational Programmes............................................................................................... 20 Delivering our Economic Recovery Plan ....................................................................................... 24 Measuring progress ........................................................................................................................ 26 Annex A: Summary of key actions and commitments ............................................................... A-1 Annex B: District profiles ...............................................................................................................B-1
i
Executive Summary around main three Delivery Packages.
These are short/medium-term in focus
and they work alongside interventions put
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought in place by government, whilst also using
unprecedented economic upheaval to creatively other levers available to us.
Hertfordshire. Many businesses are
under significant financial pressure. For To ensure that progress continues to
those within town centres, the challenges be made towards the longer-term
have been particularly acute. The visitor aspirations set out in our draft Local
economy has also been affected Industrial Strategy, two
substantially. Transformational Programmes will
also be advanced.
As a result, on current estimates, the
claimant count could rise to perhaps In progressing these different elements,
60,000. For the first time in a generation, Hertfordshire LEP will work closely with
Hertfordshire is likely to have a real other partners, particularly the
unemployment problem. Its young Hertfordshire Growth Board and an
people are likely to bear the brunt, and emerging grouping of LEPs in the south
the ‘class of 2020’ will be severely of England (Catalyst South).
affected.
Hertfordshire LEP Board will oversee the
Hertfordshire’s Economic Recovery delivery of the Economic Recovery Plan
Plan has been developed in response. It and it will monitor its progress closely.
recognises that Hertfordshire has both
The situation is very uncertain: a second
assets and opportunities, and it seeks to
spike in the pandemic could require rapid
use these as the foundations for renewed
changes to be made and the process of
growth. It focuses particularly on
EU transition is also generating
Hertfordshire’s businesses (be they
uncertainty. Hence this Plan is, and will
private, public or third sector, including
remain, a live one. We intend to review it
social enterprises) and on the people who
in the autumn and early in the New Year.
ought to be working for them. Our
Economic Recovery Plan is structured
Hertfordshire’s Economic Recovery Plan, August 2020
1
COVID-19 and Emergency responses
Hertfordshire The pandemic has also led to acute
economic turbulence. Livelihoods across
Hertfordshire have been severely
COVID-19 is an ongoing public health
affected.
tragedy. By early July 2020, well over
1,000 Hertfordshire residents had lost Hertfordshire LEP has sought to
their lives and the total number of cases help businesses navigate the
was upwards of 4,000. immediate economic crisis.
During the height of lockdown, Particularly through the Growth Hub,
Hertfordshire’s businesses went out of firms have been signposted to the raft of
their way to help. For example: measures put in place by government –
from the Coronavirus Job Retention
Warner Bros Studios Leavesden
Scheme to the Coronavirus Business
and Golden Tours (coach company)
Interruption Loan Scheme and the
offered Harry Potter-branded buses
Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
as free transport for NHS staff
between Watford General, St Albans In parallel, Hertfordshire LEP has
City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals. launched a £3.28m package of
measures to help mitigate the immediate
Aztek Logistics (Letchworth)
impacts of the pandemic; this includes
delivered 60-tonnes of specialist
Crowdfund Hertfordshire; Hertfordshire
flooring to the NHS Nightingale
Business Expansion Grant; and the
Hospitals at NEC (Birmingham) and
Volunteer Business Support Scheme
ExCel Centre (London)
(and is in addition to longer term ventures
such as the Hertfordshire SME Growth
Stevenage Football Club supported
Loan Scheme).
those in need with food and medicine
delivery, community services, and a
Over recent weeks, Hertfordshire LEP
community kitchen, which provided
has received a £16.8m allocation from
sandwiches to staff at Lister Hospital
the Getting Building Fund for investment
and to vulnerable locals.
in local, shovel-ready infrastructure
projects. Five major projects will create
BioProducts Laboratory (Elstree)
over 1,500 jobs and unlock over 12,100
pooled expertise with CSL Behring,
sq. m. of commercial space within the
Takeda, Octapharma, Biotest and the
county. This will include new studio space
pharmaceutical group LFB to
to help cement South West
accelerate the development of a
Hertfordshire’s importance to the UK’s
potential COVID-19 hyperimmune
film and TV industry; new state-of-the-art
therapy.
R&D and training facilities to boost the life
sciences corridor between Stevenage
2
and Welwyn Hatfield and strengthen the Its purpose is to chart a clear route
skills pipeline; and over 5,100 sq. m. of through the short-medium term economic
business incubation and grow-on floor effects of the pandemic and define
space in both South West and South East actions in response. It aims to accelerate
Hertfordshire. recovery over the next 6-18 months. But
it will also position Hertfordshire for
A Plan for recovery sustained and good economic growth in
the years thereafter.
This Plan builds on the emergency
measures which were taken at both local
and national levels.
3
COVID-19 in Hertfordshire: economic perspectives, summer 2020
163,000 employments 52,600 claims
furloughed made under the Self Employment
in July 2020 – a take-up rate of 28% Income Support Scheme –
a take-up rate of 76%
(HMRC CJRS Statistics, July 2020)
(HMRC SEISS Statistics, July 2020)
23,656 loans offered £193m grants paid
(with a value of £968m) through local authority
under either Coronavirus Business Small Business Grants Fund scheme
Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) or or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) to firms Business Grants Fund
in Hertfordshire’s parliamentary
constituencies (Data from BEIS, Coronavirus grant funding
- local authority payments to SMEs,
(Data from British Business Bank, 27th July 2020)
2nd August 2020)
Hertfordshire’s claimant count was 38,090 in July 2020
(compared to 12,710 in July 2019) – almost double the level seen at the height of the
financial crisis and close to those of the early 1990s
(ONS claimant count data, July 2020)
4
The task of recovery Treasury’s comparison of independent
forecasts from June 2020 distils an
‘average’ view that GDP will fall by about
Understanding the scale of the 9% in 2020 and the unemployment rate
economic shock… will be about 8% nationally by Q4 2020.
Data published by ONS suggests that in Given its sectoral mix and locational and
July 2020, the claimant count in other assets, Hertfordshire might expect
Hertfordshire (among those aged 16+) to fare better than the average – but not
was 38,090; a year earlier (July 2019), it substantially so; the shock will be
was 12,710. Consistent with this three- significant. On current estimates, the
fold increase, the claimant count rate claimant count could rise to perhaps
increased from 1.7% to 5.2% over the 60,000. For the first time in a generation,
same period. Put another way, the scale Hertfordshire is likely to have a real
of unemployment in Hertfordshire in June unemployment problem. Its young
2020 was similar to that which a year people are likely to bear the brunt.
earlier had characterised the Black
Country and North East LEP areas. Hertfordshire’s economic assets
In making these observations, it is However, Hertfordshire has significant
important to recognise that the full economic assets. Despite the scale and
economic effects of the pandemic have depth of the economic shock, the
yet to be seen; so far, they have been county’s ‘economic fundamentals’ are
substantially cushioned by government. strong:
In July 2020, 163,000 of Hertfordshire’s Hertfordshire has outstanding
working residents were furloughed, ‘people assets’ and although there
equivalent to 28% of all “employments”). are variations across the county,
This picture was very similar to the overall its working age population is
national average. Within Hertfordshire, well-qualified. In addition, if more of
the incidence of furlough was highest in those who ‘normally’ work in central
Broxbourne and Hertsmere, and lowest London find themselves working from
in St Albans. In addition, some 52,600 their Hertfordshire homes, the
self-employed people (76% of the total) county’s human capital could
were claiming self-employment income effectively increase further;
support. Hertfordshire is home to large
numbers of entrepreneurs and
These schemes will gradually be business leaders.
withdrawn, and economic forecasters are
divided in their assessment of the effects. Hertfordshire continues to have a
Whilst there is uncertainty surrounding dynamic knowledge economy,
the shape and duration of recession, the underpinned by corporate research
fact of it is without challenge. HM and development but increasingly
5
given fresh expression through small construction and civil engineering
and innovative, investment-backed sector; and increasingly, the journey
businesses, particularly in the domain towards smart and sustainable
of cell and gene therapy where construction is being accelerated
Hertfordshire’s asset base is second through the activities of Hertfordshire
to none. Late in 2019, Stevenage IQ (see below).
Bioscience Catalyst (SBC) was
identified by government as a Life The University of Hertfordshire is at
Sciences Opportunity Zone, reflecting the heart of an emerging
the significance of GlaxoSmithKline, infrastructure for innovation and
and the success of both the Cell and commercialisation. This includes an
Gene Therapy Catapult and SBC in established Innovation Centre and an
building a world-class advanced active Hertfordshire Science
therapies cluster. Partnership (with Hertfordshire LEP
and supported by SBC and RoCRE
Hertfordshire’s creative industries Rothamsted). It also includes highly
are vibrant, especially in relation to specialist provision that has been
film and TV. Established studios developed to reflect local strengths
(such as Warner Bros at Leavesden and opportunities (e.g. the Asceptic
and the BBC studios at Elstree) are Manufacturing course was set up to
attracting new investment to the address skills gaps in the
county; and the breadth and depth of manufacture of cell and gene
expertise in south west Hertfordshire therapies). The University has over
is growing. 25,000 students and it has world
class research specialisms, notably in
Hertfordshire has substantial advanced engineering, gaming and
strengths in advanced engineering software.
and manufacturing. This sector has
a lineage to the likes of British In addition, Hertfordshire has many of the
Aerospace in Hatfield but now is benefits that come with proximity to – but
substantially broader with a very also some separateness from – both a
strong IT component. Its footprint major world city and a series of
extends north and west, into international gateways (Stansted Airport,
Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Luton Airport, Heathrow Airport, and (via
Luton. London St Pancras) Eurostar). At least
for now, the effects of the pandemic have
With a major research competence at been especially challenging for these
BRE in Watford and also a strong gateway sectors and functions (not least
cadre of major businesses (including aviation), but looking ahead, the benefits
Willmott Dixon in Letchworth Garden of international connectivity will
City, Skanska in Rickmansworth and eventually re-appear. London too will
VolkerFitzpatrick in Hoddesdon), remain a global powerhouse despite the
Hertfordshire has a significant6
pandemic. For Hertfordshire, proximity to which to draw. It needs to use these
London brings major opportunities. assets well in charting a route towards
economic recovery and in providing a
Whilst the pandemic has led to a foundation for sustained future
substantial economic shock, growth.
Hertfordshire has important assets on7
Strategic journeys have emphasised further the huge
significance of digital technologies. This
commitment is reflected in the Economic
This is an Economic Recovery Plan (and Recovery Plan.
a live document); it is not a Strategy. In
other words, it is action-focused and the Two other cross-cutting commitments
commitments it describes are either were also sharpened through the LIS
substantially underway or imminent. consultation: economic growth in
Hertfordshire needs to be more inclusive
However, our Economic Recovery Plan is and we need urgently to respond to the
nested within key strategic statements for climate emergency. In charting a route
Hertfordshire. It is informed by them and through the economic shock, these
will contribute towards them albeit in themes continue to be centre-stage.
circumstances that could not possibly
have been anticipated. Hertfordshire Growth Board
Local Industrial Strategy Whilst refining the LIS, Hertfordshire LEP
has been fully engaged in a conversation
Prior to the pandemic, Hertfordshire was with Hertfordshire County Council and
at the point of finalising its Local with the ten districts and boroughs,
Industrial Strategy (LIS). through the Hertfordshire Growth
Board. This was – and is – in the throes
Building directly on the earlier Strategic of negotiating a wide-ranging Growth
Economic Plan (SEP), the LIS had been Deal with government. Many of the
developed over preceding months with themes of the LIS are now being
substantial business, stakeholder and advanced through this route – including,
partner input. It also benefited from a full for example, the commitment to
public consultation in summer 2019. Hertfordshire’s Science Corridor and to
regenerating New Towns, both old and
The LIS was/is intended to be of medium- new.
term currency. Consistent with the UK
Industrial Strategy White Paper, it set out
Catalyst South
a series of strategic themes through
which productivity improvements would In parallel, Hertfordshire LEP has been in
be won and the full potential of active dialogue with other local enterprise
Hertfordshire’s assets realised. partnerships across the south of
England. This reflects strong
At the heart of the draft LIS was a
commonality of interest defined, in the
commitment to ‘digital foundations,
main, through strong relationships with
frontiers and futures’, recognising the
London.
cross-cutting importance of what has
been described as the fourth industrial
revolution. The events of recent months8
Together, the six LEP areas1 have a both Catalyst South and the Hertfordshire
population of around 11 million people; Growth Board are important ventures.
they account for about 5.8 million jobs; Both are consistent with the direction of
and they are home to half a million travel signalled by the draft LIS, which
enterprises. Their economic output sums itself owes much to the earlier SEP.
to more than £300m – on a par with some
countries elsewhere in Europe. They COVID-19 has not changed any of this:
therefore represent a significant part of the overarching vision and the
the UK economy and in driving forward destination for economic growth in
economic recovery, their economic Hertfordshire – which was set out in the
muscle is critical. draft LIS – remain in place. The scale of
the shock is such that short-term
Short-term recovery; long-term ameliorative actions will be necessary.
ambition However, the actions set out in this
Recovery Plan need to be seen as
With a White Paper on English recovery stepping stones in this longer-term
and devolution expected in the autumn, journey.
1
SELEP, Enterprise M3, Coast to Capital, Thames
Valley Berkshire, Solent and Hertfordshire9
Hertfordshire’s To ensure that progress is made towards
the longer-term aspirations set out in the
Economic Recovery draft LIS (and previously the SEP), two
Plan Transformational Programmes will be
also advanced.
Hertfordshire’s Economic Recovery Plan These are:
is structured around main three Delivery
Packages. Equipping Hertfordshire’s places
for mid-21st Century working and
These are focused on: living
Enterprise and Innovation; Connecting Hertfordshire for mid-
21st Century working and living
Skills and Creativity; and
Across both transformational
International Trade and Investment programmes, Hertfordshire LEP will work
alongside other partners to ensure that
These are concerned with Hertfordshire’s
progress is made. In particular, the
businesses and workforce (both existing
intention is that many of these broader
and future). They are, in other words,
commitments should be advanced
directed to the immediate engine room of
through the emerging Growth Deal which
economic recovery and growth. They are
is being negotiated through the
targeted at the core of value creation –
Hertfordshire Growth Board.
and with the importance of digital futures,
inclusivity and clean growth firmly in view.
Figure 1: Hertfordshire’s Economic Recovery Plan, August 202010
Three Economic Many have risen to the immediate
challenge of the pandemic and pivoted
Recovery Packages their experience and expertise to deliver
exactly what the UK has needed. Others
have continued to press ahead with
At the heart of our Economic Recovery
pioneering endeavours in, for example,
Plan are three main Packages which are
drug discovery; space science; and
focused directly on Hertfordshire’s
sustainable construction.
businesses and its people.
As we look ahead, we need to use this
Recovery Package 1: spirit of enterprise and innovation. We
Enterprise and Innovation need to work with our businesses both to
navigate the immediate situation and
Hertfordshire’s 65,000 enterprises – move quickly towards recovery and
many of them small – are key to renewed growth.
economic recovery.
Hertfordshire Growth Hub and
Over recent months, most have been
support for enterprise
under significant financial pressure as
expenditure has been delayed or
Much of our immediate response is being
cancelled and supply chains have been
advanced through the Hertfordshire
dislocated. For businesses within town
Growth Hub which is funded by powered
centres, the challenges have been
by the LEP.
particularly acute; and the wider visitor
economy has also been affected Launched in 2014, the LEP pulled
substantially. Across the board, together an innovative funding package
businesses (be they private, public or to make the Growth Hub possible.
third sector, including social enterprises) Currently it is delivered by Exemplas,
– and their staff – have been challenged University of Hertfordshire and
by varying combinations of remote and/or Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Its
socially distanced working, furlough, the mission is to create a thriving small
need to juggle responsibilities (e.g. home business community across
schooling), and the challenge of fewer Hertfordshire through the provision of
migrant workers, particularly in some locally tailored support and advice which
critical but more routine functions. In connects businesses with the right
summary, most firms have been under experts2.
pressure.
To date, the Growth Hub has supported
Yet Hertfordshire’s businesses are around 4,500 businesses (including
among the most innovative and social enterprises) across the county. An
entrepreneurial anywhere in the world. independent evaluation found that the
2
Note that the Hertfordshire Growth Hub is the aim of further developing initiatives to benefit the
collaborating closely with the Director of the Centre for Third Sector in Hertfordshire
Social Enterprise at the University of Hertfordshire with11
support was widely valued and that it was In both cases, these are initially interest
helping businesses to grow. free, but eventually the capital has to be
repaid. Some are using the finance to
Over recent months, Hertfordshire LEP back applications to the Business
and the Growth Hub have had a central Expansion Grant Scheme. This in turn
role in relation to a £3.28m COVID-19 should mean that there is alignment and
business support package which was an incentive to invest in capital.
created to deal with the immediate
economic effects of the pandemic. It Looking ahead, the Growth Hub will
includes: continue to play a central role in
supporting our businesses as they drive
the Hertfordshire Business forward economic recovery. We will also
Expansion Grant Scheme (BEGS) work closely with Hertfordshire
which is funded through the Community Foundation, a county-wide
European Regional Development grant making charity, to ensure that the
Fund (ERDF) and provides grants to VCSE (voluntary, community and social
SMEs for capital expenditure of £10k- enterprise) sector is aware of the
£100k. The design of this Scheme available support.
has been flexed in order to reflect the
current business climate. Various initiatives will support this longer-
term recovery process. A key one is the
the Volunteer Business Support Hertfordshire SME Growth Loan
Scheme (delivered by University of Scheme. Working with Finance South
Hertfordshire alongside the Growth East, a Special Purpose Vehicle has
Hub) in which small and micro been set up and a fund manager
businesses receive coaching and appointed to establish a fund on
mentoring. evergreen principles. The fund will
provide debt finance in the range £200k
Crowdfund Hertfordshire which is
to £500k for high growth SMEs unable to
being delivered with Visit Herts and is
secure finance from traditional sources.
supporting adaptation and innovation
across small and micro businesses In addition to the various interventions
(including social enterprises) in linked to access to finance, we are
tourism, leisure, hospitality, retail, arts augmenting other forms of business
and culture. support:
Many firms in Hertfordshire3 have We are in the process of introducing
benefitted from two national loan a Peer Network programme. The
schemes (the Coronavirus Business rationale for this is that businesses
Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and learn most from those they trust,
the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)). hence the aim is to put them amongst
3
Currently approaching 24,000 firms have been offered
loans12
their peers within a facilitated action (Hertfordshire IQ), the county’s
learning style environment. The Enterprise Zone. Its purpose is to provide
objective is both to help businesses a sustainable place for innovative and
stabilise in the current COVID-19 green businesses to grow and a hub of
challenged commercial environment employment opportunities for the local
and complement the on-going community.
productivity agenda.
The Hertfordshire IQ ‘offer’ comprises
We are exploring options in relation to commercial space and a supporting
leadership and management. This package of benefits to attract inward
may include working through the investment from two key sectors;
recently-announced national Small construction and agritech. Over time, it
Business Leadership Programme. will deliver three million square feet of
Separately, we are looking at new commercial space across seven
opportunities to work with the sites in south west Hertfordshire. This
University of Hertfordshire and/or will help to accommodate Hertfordshire’s
Cranfield University to deliver a growth businesses and stem any
‘Re-ignite SME Growth’ programme. potential loss of enterprise and talent, as
well as attracting new companies to the
Finally, our intention is to put in place a area.
package of support to encourage new
business start-ups. We have identified Hertfordshire IQ is targeted to deliver
two main strands as a priority: support for 8,000 new jobs across the designated
technology and/or innovation-focused sites, many of which will be highly skilled,
entrepreneurs, and support for those who and a further 2,000 jobs across the wider
are considering self-employment (instead Hemel Garden Communities
of employment). Within both, we would development. In delivering these jobs,
like to target this at younger Hertfordshire IQ is also working with local
entrepreneurs, recognising that they will education and skills partners to ensure
be disproportionately affected by the that local people are well-placed to
pandemic and yet they are crucial to the benefit.
future of Hertfordshire’s economy.
As well as providing tax breaks to
Drawing together these different relocating businesses, Hertfordshire IQ
elements – and with a view to a wider offers opportunities for companies to
look at the process of enterprise across collaborate with key anchor institutions
Hertfordshire, we intend to develop an (notably BRE Group, Rothamsted
Enterprise Strategy for the county. Research and the University of
Hertfordshire). Specifically, it is
Hertfordshire IQ encouraging business start-up,
incubation and growth through
Another core element of our response is investment in new innovation centres on
Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter Rothamsted Research and BRE13
campuses. The proposed Open private sector which have taken the form
Innovation Hub at BRE has very recently of ‘virtual round tables’ during lockdown.
secured support from the Getting
Building Fund. Examples include:
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), In relation to the visitor economy,
is of crucial importance county-wide to we are working closely with Visit
help alleviate the housing crisis. With its Herts to support businesses which
construction industry focus and wider have been very severely affected. In
objectives, Hertfordshire IQ is working addition to the crowdfunding scheme
with a consortium of housing providers. which is linked to the Growth Hub,
The aim is to develop an offsite Visit Herts is doing much to raise the
manufacturing hub for the county. This profile of the visitor economy.
will help accelerate the delivery of Working through Exemplas and with
housing and provide new employment support from Visit Herts, our intention
and innovation opportunities for the smart is to direct part of Hertfordshire’s
construction sector. share of ERDF underspend to
business development activities in
Looking forward, we intend to roll-out the this sector, possibly in association
model to other locations and for different with the University of Hertfordshire.
sectors, encouraging businesses to
invest, locate, innovate and grow within Across film and TV, we are working
Hertfordshire. closely with Sky to advance plans for
a major new studio complex at
We also intend to work closely with Elstree. In addition, we are investing
Hertfordshire County Council and other in Elstree Film Studios through the
partners in relation to cross-cutting Getting Building Fund; with new
issues relating to sustainability. BRE and funding, we will create two new
Rothamsted Research are key partners 18,000 sq. ft. studios with workshops
and the early progress of Hertfordshire and offices.
IQ, focused on envirotech, is important.
There is more to be done and the Hertfordshire’s cell and gene
publication of the Sustainable therapy cluster, located in and
Hertfordshire Strategy 2020 is a key around GSK’s major campus in
milestone in this context. Stevenage, is a long-term
commitment, and with partners, we
Sector-specific responses have already achieved a great deal.
Our intention is to put in place further
We are, in addition, developing a range of provision of different forms – focusing
sector-specific initiatives to propel on both innovation space and
Hertfordshire’s economy forward. These commercial manufacturing and
are based on conversations with the move-on space. We are also
committed to working with partners to14
ensure that requisite infrastructure Hertfordshire’s ‘class of 2020’ needs to
investments are made. Most be recognised as particularly vulnerable
immediately – with new support from to the direct and indirect effects of the
the Getting Building Fund – we will pandemic.
put in place measures focused on the
range of workforce skills that is Older workers are also being forced to
needed by a fast-growing cluster. reconsider their assumptions about work.
Many will need to seek new and different
In relation to advanced engineering, jobs, and to apply their skills in new ways
particularly space science, we have for different employers – all of which
already invested in the provision of signals upheaval, anxiety and
STEM skills. Looking ahead, we uncertainty. Within this context, lower
intend to further the concept of a skilled adults are especially vulnerable;
north-south science corridor, linking experience from previous recessions
major centres at Hatfield, Stevenage suggests that they are likely to become
and Letchworth. less employable and employers may be
less willing to hold onto them, resulting in
Hertfordshire’s construction sector increased unemployment.
will also be critical in driving forward
recovery and longer-term growth. As Our educational institutions are affected
noted above, Hertfordshire IQ (with a too – including our schools, the four
focus on innovation in the sector and further education colleges in
the development of offsite Hertfordshire and the University of
manufacturing) is a critical element of Hertfordshire. All are facing funding
this, connecting growth of the smart uncertainties and profound challenges to
construction sector with delivery of ‘normal’ approaches to teaching and
the Garden Towns at Hemel learning.
Hempstead and Gilston through
sustainable offsite methods. In relation to skills and creativity, a third
crucial constituency is our population of
businesses and other employers. The
Recovery Package 2: Skills
extent to which they have the confidence
and Creativity
to recruit and invest in their staff (through
(re-)training) is critical to unlocking
The pandemic has had a major impact on
recovery. Some sectors are more likely
individuals and households, and on
to see job losses than others, and the
students, workers and communities.
crisis may well accelerate underlying
For younger adults, the challenges are trends which are leading to shifting skills
especially acute; new graduates are needs in the economy, and in some
struggling to find job opportunities while cases to automation.
businesses may have less immediate
In seeking to accelerate economic
capacity and inclination to take on
recovery, our people matter hugely.
apprentices and other school leavers.15
We need to respond effectively. We portal for employers to seek the talent
need to match people with job they need
opportunities, equip them with the
skills to thrive in the future, and give Kickstart
employers the confidence to recruit
and use those skills well. We intend to work alongside the
government’s £2bn Kickstart
The task is substantial, but we are programme, making it as relevant and
working with partners to define and accessible as possible to businesses in
deliver our response. In this context, the Hertfordshire.
oversight role that is being provided by
the Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) – which The programme is designed to provide
links businesses, providers and learners skills and work experience for
– is critical. disadvantaged young jobseekers. The
intention is that they should benefit from
Our intention is to work with Hertfordshire a subsidised job for six months which
County Council, the Department for Work should then assist them (through the
and Pensions (DWP) and our SAP to skills and experience they have acquired)
revise the Hertfordshire Skills Strategy in securing long-term unsubsidised
(and publish it by March 2021). This will employment. The initial subsidised job
be accompanied by an updated Labour will need to be additional and paid at or
Market Review 2020/2021 taking into the above minimum wage.
account the impact of COVID-19.
The programme is a national one, but our
Beyond this, our immediate response is intention is to make it as relevant as
divided into two strands – one focusing possible for employers in Hertfordshire.
on young people and the second which is Specifically, we want smaller businesses
targeted at those aged 24+. from all sectors to consider engaging with
it, as well as the larger ones.
Young people
To this end, we intend to:
We will use the tools available to us to
provide substantive support to young work alongside organisations like
people. Within this, Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Chamber of
Opportunities Portal (HOP) will play a Commerce, FSB, ICAEW,
key role. Hertfordshire LEP has Hertfordshire Community
developed this over the last year and it Foundation, Growth Hub and Visit
provides a window on the job and training Herts to build awareness of, and links
opportunities that are available across into, the national Kickstart
the county. It is a critical source of programme
information which is freely available to all
secure funding (from remaining
our young people and provides an easy
European monies) to add
skills/workforce advice to the Growth16
Hub’s business support packages, find work in England the opportunity
and provide signposting to Kickstart. to study targeted high value level 2
and 3 courses throughout 2020-21;
Other priorities for young people this is expected to include
qualifications in ICT and construction
As well as working alongside Kickstart, (both of which link to areas of skills
we will: gaps and shortages identified before
the pandemic)
support apprenticeships,
recognising the long-term importance work with the University of
of this pathway and the need to Hertfordshire (including through the
ensure that it is well and appropriately Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal) to
used, despite the challenges linked to ensure that graduating students are
the pandemic. Working with the aware of the opportunities that exist in
national Redundancy Support Hertfordshire, both now and in the
Service for Apprentices (ReSSA), we future. It is important, for example,
will seek to enable any apprentices that graduates in digital animation are
who have been made redundant to fully aware of the opportunities that
connect to new opportunities. Using exist within Hertfordshire.
our networks, we will make more
employers aware of the enhanced Older workers (aged 24+)
incentives (from government) to take
on apprentices during the remainder We intend to support older workers,
of 2020. We will also support the on- particularly those that are needing to find
going work of the Apprenticeship a new job in a different field. We also
Ambassador Network. want to support those that are having to
work for longer than they had been
seek to increase careers provision planning due to limited pension provision.
in schools across Hertfordshire by
creating a third Careers Hub (in To these ends, we will:
addition to the two that already exist),
thereby ensuring that the whole work alongside national schemes
county benefits from enhanced such as the National Careers
provision. Evidence suggests that Service (NCS) to ensure that people
modest investment over and above in Hertfordshire aged 24+ benefit
the established Enterprise Advisers fully. In Hertfordshire, the NCS is
Network is delivering significant being delivered by Futures and it is
benefits. seeking to help those affected by
COVID-19 to get back into work and
work with our Further Education training.
Colleges to make full use of the
classroom-based offer (allowing 18
to 19 year olds who are struggling to17
advance the ESF Response to Recovery Package 3:
Redundancy programme which is International Trade and
being delivered by Serco. Investment
maximise the opportunities for
Our third recovery package is focused on
sector-based work academies,
securing new investment for
drawing on a national programme
Hertfordshire. This is important in terms
which is receiving additional funding
of re-igniting growth and it is critical if the
from DWP. These aim to provide
recovery is to be sustained and
short-term training to equip people
sustainable. It is also essential if
facing redundancy to work in jobs in
Hertfordshire is to be prepared for the
sectors which are seeking to recruit.
opportunities and risks linked to the
process of Brexit.
support various workforce
development programmes, including,
Hertfordshire has businesses, clusters
for example the ESF-funded skills
and sectors that compete with the best in
support in the workforce (SSW)
the world. These are of great interest to
which is designed to upskill those in
international investors. Despite the
employment within SMEs, including
dislocation caused by the pandemic, we
in relation to digital skills and higher
need to recognise our assets and
level qualifications.
achievements in these terms, and build
on them.
We will consult with relevant
stakeholders and use the Hertfordshire
Opportunities Portal to provide a focus for Life sciences, particularly cell and
the above services, delivering a gene therapy
coordinated offer under the banner
One example is life sciences. Located
‘Employer Recovery Hub’.
within the recently-designated Life
In relation to older workers – and Sciences Opportunity Zone, the Cell and
consistent with the key themes from our Gene Therapy Catapult Advanced
LIS – we are also concerned particularly Manufacturing Centre sits at the heart of
with the need to increase our digital a growing cluster. It is a unique facility
skills. These are relevant at all levels – which takes therapies from laboratories
from basic digital literacy through to to clinical trials and beyond. Some of its
advanced coding and data analytics. early occupants are internationally
Working with our colleges and University owned and many are involved in clinical
of Hertfordshire, and with major trials in different parts of the world. It is a
employers, digital skills will be an on- global hub linking investors,
going priority. entrepreneurs and outstanding scientists;
international connections are at the core
of its business.18
This is all in addition to the activities of in 2022. Once complete, it will include
GSK – with which it is collocated. GSK production offices, a set construction
has two major research centres within its workshop, a screening cinema and state-
global research portfolio in Hertfordshire: of-the-art post-production and digital
Medicines Research Centre in facilities.
Stevenage, and the David Jack Research
centre in Ware. It has also entered into This new investment really is a key
a joint venture with Google (i.e. Alphabet) catalyst for economic growth in
and established a bioelectronics joint Hertfordshire, in a sector in which the
venture, Galvani Bioelectronics, in county is already ‘on the global map’.
Stevenage. GSK attracts the brightest
and best research scientists from around Smart and sustainable construction
the world to work in Hertfordshire. It is a
truly global business and its Hertfordshire In relation to international investment, the
operations are a key part of it. growing opportunities linked to smart
and sustainable construction must
also be flagged. As set out above,
Film and TV
Hertfordshire IQ is leading the way in this
A second example is film and TV. context, providing opportunities for
Warner Bros’ studios at Leavesden and innovation and learning, as well as linking
the BBC studios at Elstree are known the possibilities of offsite construction to
internationally as outstanding facilities; major new developments (e.g. at Hemel
and the output from them entertains and Garden Communities and at Gilston)
educates audiences around the world. which will be central to Hertfordshire’s
wider growth narrative for decades to
However, it is also important to recognise come.
the extent to which international
investment has also followed. Harnessing these assets
Owned by the American conglomerate, Looking ahead, it is crucial that
Comcast, Sky announced in December Hertfordshire’s international credentials
2019 that it is intending to invest in are recognised and nurtured, particularly
building a major TV and film studio at as the process of EU transition moves
Elstree. This will generate an additional forward.
£3 billion of production investment in the
UK’s creative economy over the first five This means that despite the uncertainties
years of operation, from Sky, surrounding the pandemic, inward
NBCUniversal and other producers. It investment needs to be encouraged and
will also create over 2,000 jobs locally. all aspects of international trade
supported. In parallel, we also need to
Hertsmere District Council gave planning ensure that Hertfordshire’s residents are
consent to the 32-acre development in able to benefit from the investment that is
July 2020. The new facility is due to open secured; putting in place appropriate19
provision for skills, training and workforce Within this mix, we need to emphasise
development is therefore also critical. our unique attributes. We have
aspirations to establish a High Potential
Using Hertfordshire’s major sites Opportunity area around Stevenage in
well relation to cell and gene therapy. There
are also significant opportunities in the
A critical element of our response is film and TV cluster in south west
defined around our major sites and Hertfordshire. We will also highlight the
employment areas. Across depth of our labour market and the
Hertfordshire, these include Park Plaza benefits of a location at the heart of the
West and North, Gunnels Wood Road, wider ‘Golden Triangle’.
Hatfield Business Park, Watford/Croxley
Business Park and Hertfordshire IQ. Over the months ahead, we intend to
advance international place marketing
Recognising that a substantial amount of activities alongside partners within
employment land has been lost over Catalyst South. Through the
recent years (often through Permitted development of clear sectoral and
Development Rights), these are crucial technology-based propositions, we will
assets for Hertfordshire’s long term reach out to potential investors from
economic well-being. They need to be a around the world and ensure that they are
focus for the growth of key sectors and fully aware of what Hertfordshire has to
clusters, and a critical element of our offer.
inward investment marketing.
Hertfordshire trading
Marketing and promoting internationally
Hertfordshire
In a similar vein, we want to encourage
For many international inward investment more of our own businesses to trade
decisions, proximity to London is internationally – uncertainties linked both
essential. Hertfordshire can provide this, to the pandemic and Brexit/EU Transition
and it is an asset that is also shared by notwithstanding. In the long term, this is
our partners in Catalyst South. For this crucial for economic growth and we have
reason, we intend to advance our to find new ways of doing business
international marketing and positioning globally. Our Growth Hub will be part of
efforts in concert with others across the the response at a local level, but we also
south of England: there is little to be expect to take forward this commitment
gained by competing and much to be with partners across Catalyst South.
achieved through collaborating, both with
each other and with the Department for
International Trade (DIT).20
Two Transformational Stevenage
Programmes We are committed to early and significant
progress in relation to the regeneration of
Stevenage.
Alongside our three main Packages for
Economic Recovery, we intend to We have supported the formation of
advance two Transformational Stevenage Development Board which is
Programmes. currently overseeing the development of
a Town Investment Plan (TIP) proposal to
These involve many different partners,
Government. This is likely to include a
and in some cases, the LEP’s role is
range of projects – ranging from
relatively small, working in support of
developing the station gateway to
others. These Transformational
providing managed workspace in a town
Programmes tend to be longer-term
centre enterprise facility. The Town Deal
ventures – but in all cases, it will be
bid is expected to be submitted in the
important that early progress is made.
early autumn and funding decisions will
follow shortly thereafter.
Transformational Programme
1: Equipping Hertfordshire’s This is all part of a wider regeneration
places for mid-21st Century programme for Stevenage Central. One-
living and working third of the town centre is currently being
redeveloped by Mace, at a cost of
£350m, to provide some 3,500 new
Town centres and town-level
homes together with employment, retail,
economies
hospitality, leisure and co-ordinated
Across Hertfordshire, lockdown has pubic service uses set within high quality,
added substantial further pressure to vibrant public spaces. To date, some
town centre economies which were £30m of public investment has been
already under threat. These were facing made to lever in private investment. Over
structural change prior to the pandemic, the next 20 years, a further £650m will be
principally because of changing shopping invested by the private sector in the town
habits. This process has been centre, strengthened by corresponding
accelerated and intensified as leisure and business investment in Gunnels Wood
hospitality sectors have also seen Road, one of the largest employment
significant disruption. areas in the county (and linking directly to
our plans for sector growth, particularly in
Across Hertfordshire, we need a relation to cell and gene therapy (and
proactive but differentiated approach to wider life sciences) and advanced
the regeneration of our towns in general manufacturing and engineering).
and town centres in particular.21
Other town-level regeneration Watford – with major private and
schemes public sector investment in the town
centre including new retail, new high
We are also supporting the development quality public realm and ambitions to
of regeneration schemes across many redevelop Watford Station.
other towns. These include:
Welwyn Garden City – through
Bishops Stortford – with a major new private sector residential
regeneration scheme for a key part of and employment space investment
the town centre to create a new arts next to the station coupled with
complex, driving housing, proposals to replace worn out parking
employment and hospitality/leisure and under-used space with new
opportunities. mixed-use developments.
Hatfield – with carefully targeted In advancing these schemes, we are
redevelopment interventions to keen to ensure that towns’ economies
create new housing and employment also evolve. In practice, many elements
in place of surface level car parking. of our Economic Recovery Packages
(described earlier) will be delivered in our
Hemel Hempstead – through the
towns and we want to ensure that there is
implementation of long term plans to
a strong level of ‘join up’ across the
introduce new housing into the town
different elements.
centre together with new college
space, improved retail, leisure and Every town in Hertfordshire is
public realm, all set within the context different. Every one of them needs
of designation of the town as a both to recover in the short-term
Garden Community and long-term whilst also repositioning itself for
plans to create some 20,000 new longer term economic resilience and
homes. well-being. Hertfordshire LEP will be
a key partner in this journey.
St Albans – through Council-led
initiatives to replace ‘brutalist’ 1960s
Building sustainable communities
buildings with high quality residential,
employment and arts space which is Within Hertfordshire, we are committed to
more appropriate to an historic city significant housing growth over the years
centre. ahead. Major schemes include:
Waltham Cross – with public realm Harlow and Gilston Garden Town –
improvements to create Queen which spans the boundary between
Eleanor Square, paving the way for Hertfordshire and Essex, and
more comprehensive improvements includes provision for 10,000
linking Waltham Cross station to dwellings in East Hertfordshire
proposed major employment uses on
the M25/A10.22
Hemel Garden Communities – Transformational Programme
which will deliver around 11,000 2: Connecting Hertfordshire
dwellings to the north and east of for mid-21st Century living
Hemel Hempstead.
and working
We intend to work with our partners to
Our second Transformational
ensure three wider outcomes linked to
Programme is concerned with different
both schemes. First, we need to build
aspects of connectivity. The pandemic
enterprising communities – where
has demonstrated both the vulnerabilities
economic activity is ‘designed in’,
linked to connectivity but also the
consistent with the aspirations and
possibilities, particularly linked to digital
expectations of mid-21st Century living
solutions. As we seek to chart an
and working. Second, we need to ensure
economic future that is more resource
these major developments are exemplary
efficient, we need to build on the progress
in environmental terms, and here the
that has been made – recognising that
read-across to the pioneering work led
different forms of connectivity have a role
through Hertfordshire IQ is important;
to play, and also that new (and potentially
Modern Methods of Construction / offsite
better and fairer) economic and social
manufacturing can be linked to a
relationships can be defined in the
genuinely green recovery. Thirdly, our
process. In working towards these
new developments must be digitally
outcomes, digital skills will be a
exemplary, with high quality
prerequisite.
infrastructures and the expectation of
new and innovative digital solutions.
Building our digital infrastructure
Both schemes are long term ventures
It is critical that we continue to invest in
and progress on both has been slowed
and grow our digital infrastructure.
temporarily by the pandemic. But both
need to be recognised as major
Working with partners, our intention is to
opportunities – not least in relation to
deliver ubiquitous high speed digital
our construction sector (and the
connectivity over full fibre and 4G and 5G
employment pathways this can
mobile across Hertfordshire. This will
potentially provide) – and as catalysts
mean that bandwidth is no longer a
for economic growth in the short-
barrier for individual households,
medium as well as the long term.
communities, businesses and places. It
ought to open up many new opportunities
based on consistently excellent digital
connectivity.
These outcomes are achievable if the
market is encouraged to work better.
This in turn needs partners across the
county to work together with businesses23
and providers. There are many steps we the M25 – are invariably poor. We
can collectively take – including, for consider these to be important in relation
example, by making public sector to Hertfordshire’s longer-term growth
buildings and other assets available for ambitions.
infrastructure to support 5G roll-out; and
seeking to upskill local people to be able Working with Hertfordshire County
to use the infrastructure better (whether Council and other partners through the
the issue is basic digital literacy or Growth Board, we want to advance an
advanced skills linking to Artificial accessible and affordable east-west
Intelligence). system, using new and emerging Mass
Rapid Transit technologies. It will also
Re-defining orbital connectivity embrace active and sustainable travel.
Hertfordshire’s radial routes – both rail Although this is a long-term venture, it
and road – are congested and in need of should support economic growth,
investment, but they provide good improve the environment and benefit
connectivity within and beyond the both new and existing communities. It is
county. therefore a priority for economic recovery
and longer-term growth. It is being
The same cannot be said of our east- advanced under the auspices of the
west links which – with the exception of Hertfordshire Growth Board.You can also read
