Film Office drives unprecedented economic boost

Between April and June 2025, Hertfordshire Film Office reported an estimated £6.5 million in local economic impact. This surpasses the annual total for 2023/24, highlighting the sector's rebound from the disruption caused by writers' strikes, as well as improved data collection and reporting locally.

Since launching in 2023, the Film Office has strengthened vital local partnerships, introduced a streamlined support package to help productions hit the ground running, nurtured local talent, and better captured the real value filming brings to Hertfordshire.

"To see £6.5m generated in just three months is a fantastic reflection of the groundwork we have laid, and we look forward to unlocking even more opportunities for local businesses and talent as we cement Hertfordshire’s reputation as one of the UK’s premiere destinations for film." - Pippa Cawdron, Film Office Manager

A decade of support

Hertfordshire Growth Hub is celebrating 10 years of championing small business growth across the county. Since 2015, the Growth Hub has helped SMEs to grow with confidence, reach their potential, and unlock new opportunities.

Key highlights include:

• 14,000+ SMEs supported
• 2,800+ jobs created/safeguarded
• 150+ workshops and webinars delivered
• 150+ collaborations with business support partners
• £64.2m in economic value generated via its Get Growing and Building Back Better programmes

Join our Create Growth Programme

The business of film is booming in Hertfordshire, and behind every binge-worthy streaming series and cinematic blockbuster is an army of small businesses powering the production from behind the scenes.

For a vast range of local businesses - from sound designers to security, animators to accountants - the Film & TV industry represents a previously untapped market with serious growth and expansion potential.

Learn how your business can benefit via our Create Growth Programme. Whether you’re already supplying the industry or looking to tap in, this programme offers tools, insights and high-value connections to help your business grow.

Hertfordshire launches countywide Retrofit Strategy

Did you know that 40% of the UK's carbon emissions come from the built environment?

Hertfordshire has launched its first ever countywide Retrofit Strategy to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and make them warmer, greener and cheaper to run.

This new co-designed strategy, led by the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (HCCSP) and endorsed by 30 stakeholders including Hertfordshire Futures, unites key players across the county to speed up and simplify the retrofit process with coordinated action and investment.

Business Growth Service to boost SME support

The Department for Business and Trade has launched its Business Growth Service - a new digital offer that streamlines and strengthens support for UK SMEs.

The service better connects national programmes with local delivery, placing Growth Hubs at its heart - including our own Hertfordshire Growth Hub. For local businesses, this means:

• Easier access to national support via Hertfordshire Growth Hub
• More expert guidance and resources
• Greater opportunities to scale and succeed

Catalyser Business Accelerator prepares start-ups to scale up

Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst celebrated the graduation of eight of the UK's most promising health innovation start-ups from its 2025 Catalyser Business Accelerator, supported by Hertfordshire Futures and Pharmidex.

With two cohorts now completed under Hertfordshire Futures’ sponsorship, the Catalyser is helping to cement the region’s leadership in nurturing world-class biotech innovation - supporting businesses with the potential to raise significant equity, create high-value jobs, and bring breakthrough medical innovations to market.

Step2Skills Achievement Awards

Step2Skills shone the spotlight on its learners, employers and partners at its 2025 Achievement Awards. The event celebrated the individuals making life-changing strides with the help of the programme, as well as the incredible local businesses and partners that help to support disadvantaged groups in Hertfordshire.

Step2Skills plays a vital role in our mission to support our residents into education, employment and brighter futures - transforming people's lives via essential skills training and inclusive employment support.

King's Awards for Enterprise open now

Small teams can make the biggest impression. That’s why a whopping 88% of The King's Awards for Enterprise winners are SMEs, and 14% are micro-businesses.

If you’re a startup, sole trader, or a small but mighty team making an impact across international trade, sustainability, innovation or promoting opportunity - consider applying!

The awards can boost your business' reputation, credibility and global brand recognition, increase sales and growth, and motivate your team.