Hertfordshire LEP's business support schemes include:
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).
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 register for an account to access support, advice, webinars and more. 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 COVId-19 and EU Transition Business Advice Explore COVID-19 guidance produced by local council regulatory teams to help businesses trade safely and become COVID-secure. Explore EU transition guidance setting out the actions that businesses need to take, now that the UK has left the EU.
Access expert advice 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 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) to discuss your COVID-19 and EU transition related enquiries
✉ 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.
Watch business resilience training webinars to help your business get back on its feet.
✉ 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 new cell and gene therapy integration laboratory in Stevenage will receive over £3m from Hertfordshire LEP’s Getting Building Fund allocation.
Hertfordshire LEP Board member Dr. Sally Ann Forsyth; Chair of Hertfordshire LEP’s Skills & Employment Board Adrian Hawkins; and former LEP Board member Dan Dark, have been awarded OBEs.
The Enterprise Hub offers flexible business incubation, office space, teaching facilities and social areas under one roof, giving Hertfordshire start-ups access to the University's academic expertise, talent pool and business support provision.
Supported by a Getting Building Fund investment from Hertfordshire LEP, the centre will help strengthen the local skills pipeline and encompass state-of-the-art R&D facilities.
Chris Hulatt, co-founder of British fund-management and energy company Octopus Group, has joined the Hertfordshire LEP Board as business representative.
Aimed at 15-18 year olds, the event shone the spotlight on the exciting STEM career opportunities available to young people at Stevenage's world-class employers.