Business and Economic Overview

North Hertfordshire is part of "Hertfordshire Works ", the County's Economic Development Partnership. The partnership recently endorsed the Hertfordshire Economic Development Strategy, which sets out a high level economic vision for the county:

'By 2021, Hertfordshire will have a resilient and low carbon economy characterised by quality jobs, innovative and dynamic business, supported by a well skilled workforce and an entrepreneurial culture, where everyone has the opportunity to prosper and fulfil their ambitions'.'

Herts Works also supports skills and training provision, inward investment, business engagement amongst many other initiatives and projects seeking to restore Hertfordshire's competitive edge. Herts Works have also recently submitted proposals to become a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). LEPs will eventually replace what were the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

North Hertfordshire offers a high quality of life and superb working environment. The combination of attractive towns, rural surroundings, skilled and reliable workforce and excellent transport links makes North Herts an appealing location for investment and a popular place to live and work.

North Herts is strategically located in the heart of key commercial centres with an excellent transport network linking the area to the rest of the UK, Europe and World economies.

The district sits between Luton and Milton Keynes to the west, Cambridge to the north, Stevenage to the east and London, 30 miles to the south.

The districts towns are all linked by rail to London (30-40 minutes) and the north of England and Scotland.

By road the A1(M) passes through the district and the M1 passes just 6 miles from Hitchin at Junction 10, these roads provide easy access to the NW, NE and Scotland as well as linking to the M25 London ring road.

London Luton airport is only 15 minutes from Hitchin whilst London Stansted and London Heathrow are both within an hour by road.

The population of North Herts is estimated to be 123,800. 75,100 are of working age and of this number 64,300 are economically active (Source: Nomis/ONS 2009).

There are few large employers in the district and the majority of businesses are small and medium enterprises employing fewer than 50 persons. This makes the economy particularly resilient. Numerically the largest employment sector is hotels, distribution and catering which involve roughly 27% of the workforce. Financial and business services together with public administration and education together accounts for 41% of the working population each with 14% in manufacturing (Source: ABI 2008).

A growing sector for new and expanding business is in the knowledge based economy (medium and hi-tech manufacturing and hi-tech services) reflecting the high standards of education in the district and the influence of local colleges and universities.

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