Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

What Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership does

Hertfordshire Futures is the operating name of the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), a government-backed public-private partnership body that coordinates economic development across Hertfordshire, England. It is headquartered at Farnham House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, alongside Hertfordshire County Council, and is supported financially by HM Government and Hertfordshire County Council. The organisation's mission is structured around three stated priorities: supporting business growth, bridging the gap between education and employment, and accelerating innovation in priority sectors.

Hertfordshire Futures delivers its mandate through a coordinated family of sub-branded programmes rather than a unified technology platform. Core offerings include the Hertfordshire Growth Hub (SME advisory), Invest Hertfordshire (inward investment and location support), Herts IQ (a 3 million sq. ft. enterprise zone), the Hertfordshire Film Office, Visit Herts (destination management), Digital Hertfordshire (telecoms infrastructure and digital inclusion), the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal, the Hertfordshire Careers Hub, and Step2skills (adult learning). The Get Enterprising programme provides fully funded specialist support to early-stage businesses under five years old and is delivered through third-party partners Wenta and STANTA. Sector-specific initiatives cover Life Sciences, Clean Growth, and the Create Growth Programme for the creative industries.

The organisation operates on a publicly funded model rather than a commercial revenue stream: services to beneficiaries are free of charge, funding flows from HM Government and Hertfordshire County Council, and the Hertfordshire Economic Strategy 2026-2036 frames a ten-year ambition to position Hertfordshire as the UK's economic heartland. Delivery is regional, customer segments are diffused across early-stage businesses, residents and job seekers, existing and prospective businesses, and local authorities, and the underlying "technology" is a programmatic service portfolio rather than proprietary software.

Name

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Legal name

Hertfordshire Futures

Website

https://hertfordshirelep.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hertfordshire Futures is the government-backed Local Enterprise Partnership for Hertfordshire, England, coordinating a portfolio of business support, skills, and innovation programmes — including the Growth Hub, Invest Hertfordshire, Herts IQ, and Get Enterprising — for SMEs, start-ups, residents, and local councils.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Market Research & Economic Advisory (Demand/Supply, Location Analytics) (BPAJANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD), Industrial Land & Build-to-Suit Site Brokerage (BPAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business support programmes
• Skills and workforce development
• Enterprise zone services
• Regional economic strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Letchworth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Sector Funding: As a Local Enterprise Partnership, the organization operates as a publicly funded body supported by HM Government and Hertfordshire County Council. Revenue is derived from government grants and programme funding rather than commercial revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (operating as Hertfordshire Futures) is a publicly funded regional economic development body that coordinates a portfolio of business support, skills, innovation, and infrastructure programmes across Hertfordshire. Its core offerings include SME advisory services (Hertfordshire Growth Hub), startup support (Get Enterprising), an enterprise zone for future-facing businesses (Herts IQ), business relocation and investment attraction (Invest Hertfordshire), workforce development (Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal, Careers Hub, Step2skills), digital infrastructure (Digital Hertfordshire), visitor economy support (Visit Herts), and sector-specific programmes in Life Sciences and Clean Growth.

Product overview

Hertfordshire Futures operates as a coordinated portfolio of economic development programmes rather than a unified software product. The offering comprises multiple distinct service programmes across business support, skills development, sector growth, and infrastructure. The core products include: the Hertfordshire Growth Hub for SME advisory services; Herts IQ as an enterprise zone; Invest Hertfordshire for business location support; Get Enterprising for early-stage startup support; Digital Hertfordshire for telecoms infrastructure; Visit Herts for tourism; the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal and Careers Hub for workforce development; and Step2skills for adult learning. Additional programmes cover sector-specific initiatives (Life Sciences, Clean Growth), creative industries (Create Growth Programme, Hertfordshire Film Office), employment support, and regulatory assistance (Better Business For All, Social Value Service). The strategy emphasises an ecosystem approach where these programmes interconnect to support businesses across their lifecycle and drive the county's economic ambitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hertfordshire Growth Hub: Unlocking the growth potential of Hertfordshire SMEs
• Hertfordshire Film Office
• Invest Hertfordshire
• Herts IQ
• Visit Herts
• Get Enterprising
• Digital Hertfordshire
• Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal
• Hertfordshire Careers Hub
• Step2skills

Products and services

• Hertfordshire Growth Hub A business support service that unlocks the growth potential of Hertfordshire SMEs by providing advisory services, expert guidance, and resources to help small and medium enterprises scale.
• Hertfordshire Film Office An initiative that maximises the potential of Hertfordshire's film and TV sector by supporting productions, location services, and industry connections.
• Herts IQ A 3 million square foot enterprise zone offering commercial space and support services for future-facing businesses looking to establish or expand operations in Hertfordshire.
• Get Enterprising A fully funded specialist support programme for early-stage businesses in Hertfordshire (operating under five years), offering business advice, networking, and funding guidance to help startups grow and create jobs. Delivered through partners Wenta and STANTA.
• Invest Hertfordshire A service supporting businesses looking to locate or expand operations in Hertfordshire, providing site selection assistance, incentive information, and concierge support.
• Digital Hertfordshire An initiative developing Hertfordshire's telecoms infrastructure and promoting digital inclusion to ensure connectivity across the county for residents and businesses.
• Visit Herts The official destination management service for Hertfordshire that supports the growth of the visitor economy through tourism promotion and sector development.
• Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP) A digital gateway providing access to new skills and career opportunities in Hertfordshire, connecting residents with training, apprenticeships, and employment prospects.
• Hertfordshire Careers Hub A programme improving careers education to support the future workforce by connecting schools and colleges with industry partners and providing career guidance resources.
• Step2skills Training and support services for residents facing barriers to learning and employment, providing adult education courses and skills development programmes.
• Employment Support Support services helping residents find employment and helping businesses access a skilled workforce, part of the Step2skills initiative.
• Create Growth Programme A business support programme focused on creative sector businesses, providing resources and guidance for growth.
• Social Value Service A service helping businesses to maximise their social value contribution and social impact measurement.
• Better Business For All A regulatory compliance and business support service helping businesses understand and meet their regulatory obligations.
• Life Sciences Sector Programme A sector-specific initiative supporting the growth and development of life sciences businesses in Hertfordshire.
• Clean Growth Sector Programme A sector-specific initiative supporting sustainable and environmentally-focused businesses in Hertfordshire.
• Hertfordshire Economic Strategy 2026-2036 A comprehensive economic strategy setting out the county's ambition to become the UK's economic heartland by 2036, backed by a stated £50bn Hertfordshire economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hertfordshire operates a £50bn economy with ambitions to become globally recognised as the UK's economic heartland by 2036
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Broxbourne CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Broxbourne Council partners with Hertfordshire Futures on work experience programmes, hosting students as part of the modern work experience initiative under the Get Hertfordshire Working strategy.
• WentacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWenta is the primary delivery partner for the Get Enterprising programme, providing fully funded specialist support for early-stage businesses in Hertfordshire. The partnership is central to Hertfordshire Futures' mission to help businesses start, grow, and flourish within the county.
• STANTAcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSTANTA assists businesses located in postcodes AL1-5 with the Get Enterprising programme, providing supplementary delivery of fully funded specialist support for early-stage businesses in these specific Hertfordshire postcodes.
• HM GovernmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHertfordshire Futures operates as a Local Enterprise Partnership with formal government backing from HM Government. The partnership provides funding, regulatory framework, and national strategic alignment for regional economic development initiatives across Hertfordshire.
• Hertfordshire County CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHertfordshire County Council is the primary local government partner, sharing office location at Farnham House, Stevenage and co-delivering programmes including Step2skills adult learning. The partnership provides operational infrastructure and complementary public services.
• Haileybury Turnford SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing students for work experience programmes delivered in partnership with local councils as part of Hertfordshire Futures' skills and employment initiatives.
• Careers & Enterprise CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Hertfordshire Careers Hub to improve careers education and support the future workforce. Part of the broader skills and employment strategy coordinated by Hertfordshire Futures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership: Coast to Capital LEP operates across Sussex and Surrey with the same statutory LEP functions — Growth Hub, skills, investment promotion — and shares the same funding and governance model via central government and local authorities.
• Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership: Neighbouring UK Local Enterprise Partnership covering Buckinghamshire, delivering an analogous portfolio of business growth, skills, and infrastructure programmes funded by central government. Directly comparable in mandate, funding model, and delivery structure.
• Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership: Oxfordshire LEP operates the same statutory LEP mandate in a neighbouring South East county, running Growth Hub-equivalent business support, skills programmes, and enterprise zone activity. Closest structural peer in terms of geography and economic profile.
• Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership: Enterprise M3 LEP covers Hampshire, Surrey, and Berkshire with a similar Growth Hub, skills, and inward investment mandate. Operates as a directly comparable LEP with overlapping geographic catchment to Hertfordshire.
• South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership: SEMLEP covers Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Milton Keynes with a near-identical LEP structure: government funding, growth hub, enterprise zones, sector programmes, and skills initiatives. Highly comparable in operating model and constituency.
• Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership: Cheshire and Warrington LEP delivers an analogous economic development, skills, and growth hub portfolio in the North West, funded through the same central government LEP channels. Strong structural peer despite geographic separation.
• Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership: HotSW LEP serves Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay with the same business growth, skills, and inward investment programmes. Comparable LEP peer with similar governance, funding sources, and programme mix.

Broad incumbents

• British Chambers of Commerce: National business membership body that overlaps with LEP business support and Growth Hub activity at scale across the UK. Not a direct LEP substitute but competes for the same business-facing advisory mandate and political visibility.
• Confederation of British Industry (CBI): National employer body providing business representation, policy advocacy, and economic intelligence that overlaps with the LEP's economic strategy and sector programme activities. A broader incumbent operating at UK-wide scale.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership body for small businesses providing advice, policy representation, and member services that intersect with the LEP's SME Growth Hub and Get Enterprising-style early-stage support. Adjacent rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HertsLEP

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership