Hertfordshire’s best business brains gathered to discuss the future of the county’s infrastructure at a conference hosted by the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) last week.
On 22 October representatives from a range of locally-based businesses shared ideas and began forming a united plan for encouraging economic growth in Hertfordshire.
Among the delegation were senior figures from both the private and public sectors.
LEPs across the country have a growing influence in infrastructure planning with Government increasingly channelling funding for infrastructure through the partnerships.
The conference highlighted the county’s unique infrastructure challenges and set out ways to tackle the potential problems that stand in the way of development, such as the busy road network.
LEP Chairman John Gourd led as the audience heard presentations from a number of prominent figures in local business as well as John Dowie, Director of Local Transport from the Department for Transport and Hertfordshire County Council Chief Executive, John Wood.
Discussions focussed on identifying which types of business can thrive in the county and what improvements would most effectively help those industries succeed.
LEP Chairman John Gourd said: “Events like this provide an important insight and an opportunity to challenge one another. We hope that by making well thought out and intelligent investments we can build on our existing foundations to stimulate successful business in Hertfordshire.”
One of the LEP’s key priorities is to improve infrastructure and remove barriers to growth. Rolling out superfast broadband and improving our road network are at the top of the list.
The purpose of today’s conference was to gather together key partners to discuss how infrastructure projects in Hertfordshire should be prioritised
Leader of Hertfordshire County Council Robert Gordon, who attended the event, said: “Hertfordshire’s location close to London brings huge benefits, but our congested roads and the need to protect the green belt create challenges. Businesses and local government have to work together inventively to optimise economic growth without comprising the special character that makes Hertfordshire a uniquely attractive place to live and work”.
John Dowie said: “Under the Government’s proposals for devolving more powers and funding to local areas, the LEP and its partners will have the opportunity to set transport investment priorities for Hertfordshire over the next 10 years. This will require those involved to work closely together, share expertise and focus ruthlessly on the growth needs of Hertfordshire, I would encourage both public and private partners to rise to this challenge.”
