Principal element
Over the next ten years, Hertfordshire Futures plans to accelerate the growth of the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) sector. This is being treated as a priority sector with the aim to increase the number of jobs and businesses.
The scale of the sector in Hertfordshire
The push for clean growth is creating new businesses and transforming existing ones. There are three main areas:
- Environmental - Focuses on managing pollution and waste
- Renewable Energy - Includes wind, biomass, geothermal energy, and more
- Low Carbon - Covers activities from nuclear power to building technologies
Skills Development
The need for skill and workforce needs are being explored through research and collaboration with partners. There are exciting job opportunities in this sector, which is helping Hertfordshire to fully recover from the pandemic and achieve long-term goals. Hertfordshire Skills is playing a key role in delivering this support through the delivery of a ‘Retrofit Plan’.
The video below explains Retrofit in more detail, and what it means for Hertfordshire.
Building networks and supply chains
Herts IQ is crucial in developing smart construction, AgriTech, and EnviroTech clusters. The Herts IQ Network aims to create a community of businesses that will foster collaboration and innovation. We continue to develop Herts IQ as a central hub for the sector.
Attracting inward investment
Hertfordshire’s key assets and development opportunities, like Hemel Garden Communities and Stevenage Regeneration, will be used to attract investment. Hertfordshire Futures leads on marketing and investment campaigns to set the region apart and align with its clean growth goals.
Growing and attracting low carbon businesses: Clean Growth Activities
Herts IQ is 3M Sq ft. commercial space targeted at clean growth sectors
Herts IQ network - knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovation
Herts IQ Skills Group - FE Colleges and University of Hertfordshire are developing green skills
Hertfordshire Futures Leads the Charge in the Retrofit Revolution
Hertfordshire Futures has been helping to make homes greener, warmer and healthier by building the capacity and capability of the 'Retrofit' supply chain. This includes delivery of the Retrofit Skills Plan.
Under retrofit, Hertfordshire Futures has also supported the HCCSP’s Retrofitting Your House Guide. Current retrofit work is supporting the creation of a countywide retrofit strategy through the Local Area Retrofit Accelerator programme.
Hertfordshire Futures has helped to unlock the capacity and capability of retrofit (installation of energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation solutions) skills and jobs in Hertfordshire.
Through a project funded by DESNZ (The Department for Energy, Security and Net-Zero), the Hertfordshire Futures Skills team issued employer grant funding, provided business support, and created training opportunities for local construction companies, residents, colleges and training providers.