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Hertfordshire LEP Business Support Package
Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2: a £22m+ tri-LEP investment initiative led by the University of East Anglia and Norfolk County Council, to support SMEs that are making a positive impact on greenhouse gas reduction through the development of innovative technologies, products or services (ERDF funded).
Hertfordshire LEP SME Growth Loan Scheme: loans of £200k – £500k available to established SMEs in Hertfordshire requiring finance to implement expansion activities that will deliver substantial growth (LEP funded).
Our £3.28m package of measures to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 includes:
Crowdfund Hertfordshire: Small Business Innovation Fund: grants of up to £5,000 for small/micro businesses in tourism, leisure, hospitality, retail, arts and culture (LEP funded, administered by Visit Herts).
Hertfordshire Business Expansion Grant Scheme: grants of £10k - £100k to incentivise SME investment in capital equipment (ERDF and LEP funded, managed by the LEP and Hertfordshire County Council, with support from Hertfordshire Growth Hub and Finance South East).
Volunteer Business Support Scheme: advice and support from a network of business mentors for firms adversely affected by COVID-19 (a LEP funded Hertfordshire Growth Hub service, managed by the University of Hertfordshire).
FOR LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORTVisit Hertfordshire Growth Hub's business resource page and take a survey on the your business has responded and adapted to the pandemic. Your responses will help shape the service provided.
Not eligible for Business Rate Relief Grants? Other funding opportunities are available in Hertfordshire. Learn more.
Get tailored advice from a Growth Hub Business Adviser:
☎ call 01707 398168
✉ email enquiries@hertsgrowthhub.com
💬 live chat from Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5.30pm
FOR businesses Looking to RE-OPEN and trade safelyExplore guidance, checklists and templates produced by local council regulatory teams to support businesses that are re-opening or diversifying, and to enable them to trade safely and become ‘COVID-19-secure’.
Alternatively, speak to an expert from the Environmental Health team at your local council (visit your council's website for more information) or from Hertfordshire Trading Standards (details below):
☎ call 01707 281401, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
✉ email trading.standards@hertfordshire.gov.uk
💬 follow Better Business For All @BBFAHerts on Twitter
For skills related queriesVisit HOP (Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal) for current job and volunteering opportunities, careers and skills-related guidance and educational resources.
For queries relating to our Careers & Enterprise Company programme:
✉ email gareth.dace@hertfordshirelep.co.uk
For tourism and hospitality industry queriesExplore the Visit Herts business support page.
✉ email enquiries@visitherts.co.uk
💬 join the LinkedIn forum for Hertfordshire tourism and hospitality businesses
HOW YOU CAN HELP: PAID OPPORTUNITIESHertfordshire County Council has launched additional care and warehousing/driving job opportunities to support the community response to COVID-19. If you have lost your income or have had your hours reduced, and would like to help care for the community, please visit the Community Workforce website here.
Visit the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP) to see which sectors are hiring now and apply for live vacancies.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: VOLUNTeering and donationIf you or your business wish to volunteer to help those in need during the Coronavirus crisis, register your interest at #TeamHerts Volunteering to be matched to a local organisation near you.
Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF) has awarded over 100 emergency relief grants to local charities supporting the county's most vulnerable people during the pandemic. Find out more about HCF's grants programmes and donate to the Hertfordshire Coronavirus Disaster Relief Fund.
The conference, which attracted over 250 delegates, set out how the LEP and its partners are working to accelerate economic recovery and re-ignite the economy by putting people and business at the heart of value creation.
The modern new business centre in Hatfield, supported by a £751k grant from Hertfordshire LEP, provides COVID-secure facilities aimed at freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses.
The programme gives SMEs an opportunity to network with fellow businesses, collaborate to find solutions to common issues, and access expert business advice and support.
Hertfordshire LEP has published its Annual Report looking back over its key achievements from 2019/20.
Seven leading local businesses have formed a Cornerstone Employer Group to support schools as part of the Hertfordshire Careers Hub.
The road improvements are key to accelerating the delivery of new employment space at Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, as well as much-needed new homes as part of Hemel Garden Communities.