Introducing the series 

During the first quarter of 2025 we launched the Hertfordshire Futures Debates series, which enabled us to take a place-based deep dive into three broad and inter-related themes: 

• Inclusion – Get Hertfordshire Working 
• Sustainability – Shaping a Greener Economy
• Digital – Are We AI Ready?  

Each 60-minute webinar was chaired by Matt Deegan, radio and podcast host, and is available now on demand. In order to encourage a wide cross-section of views, each panel comprised one national expert in conversation with regional panellists from across business, education, local government and health. 

Together with the extensive economic engagement phase, the Hertfordshire Futures Debates have informed the draft Economic Strategy ahead of public consultation.

Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair, Hertfordshire Futures provides an overview of the series below:

Webinar 1: Get Hertfordshire Working

This debate, broadcast live on 29 January, brought together voices from across health, business and local government to help break down barriers to employment and ensure more people can make meaningful contributions to society. 

In Hertfordshire 18.3% of people aged 16-64 are economically inactive, which is slightly lower than the national rate of 22%, but this rate does vary from district to district. The incidence of ‘long term sick’ among those who are economically inactive is slightly lower in Hertfordshire than across England, but worryingly this rate appears to be growing faster than the UK as a whole. How can we develop a local Get Britain Working paper that works for Hertfordshire.

Read the PR summary report. 

Watch the recording below or read the transcript.

Webinar 2: Shaping a greener economy

This debate broadcast live on 24 February explored how we can foster local economic growth while supporting net zero goals and encouraging green investments, all while delivering the much-needed homes and infrastructure.

With Hertfordshire’s population projected to rise by 38,550 by 2043, there will be increased demands for housing, healthcare, schools, and transport. This growth presents opportunities and challenges. There is also a significant need for green skills to retrofit Hertfordshire’s housing stock, ensuring healthier living conditions for the future.

Read the PR summary report.

Watch the recording below or read the transcript.

Webinar 3: Are We AI Ready?

This debate broadcast live on 5 March discussed how new and emerging technologies and AI are revolutionising our key sectors, driving growth and productivity alongside risks for industries and potential for people to be left behind.

In this final webinar in the Hertfordshire Futures Debates series, we viewed the digital arena both from an innovation lens and also skills and inclusion to ensure that we better harness its benefits and future-proof our economy for a digital age.  

Read the PR summary report.

Watch the recording below:

Evidence based

This interactive dashboard will measure how Hertfordshire is performing compared to other regions on a range of key indicators.

View the dashboard

Purpose-driven

We will progress 'key lines of enquiry' customised for key stakeholder groups to ensure engagement is relevant.

Wide-ranging

We will engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, which we have grouped into these overlapping key families.

Targeted

We will design communication and engagement activities to suit different audience needs and accessibility requirements.

Informed

We will bring in experts to debate themes of local, regional and national importance and ensure we gain maximum reach via a range of communication channels.

Transparent

We will be clear about the ways organisations and individuals can engage and how their involvement will be used to make it as meaningful and relevant as possible.