Business support services
Important Update
Details of service updates and business support can be found on the links below:
Our page with information on COVID-19 grants, financial support and guidelines for businesses:
For updates on Council services and useful links
Advice for Employers Considering Redundancies
Kickstart Scheme
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create new 6-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
The first placements are likely to be available from November. Funding will cover for each job placement: 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week the associated employer National Insurance contributions employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions
There will also be extra funding to support young people to build their experience and help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their Kickstart Scheme funded job.
Looking to apply for the Kickstart Scheme? Will you create less than 30 placements?
If you are looking to apply for the scheme but will create less than 30 placements, you will require the support from an intermediary in order to submit your application.
As the central point of access for business support in Hertfordshire, the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership would like to gain an understanding of the number of SMEs that will require this support in order to submit their application. To help us do this, please click here to complete our short initial interest form.
Community Wealth Building Together Business Support Programme
The Community Wealth Building Together Business Support Programme is offering a unique series of support and advice to businesses across Hertfordshire.
The Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
Please see more information below, including contact details to apply:
Information and support for business start-ups and existing businesses looking to grow
Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Toggle accordion
"LEPs are responsible for producing a Strategic Economic Plan for their area, identifying barriers and solutions to growth and working with local partners to improve their business environment. Our vision is to accelerate business-led economic growth in Hertfordshire, and for Hertfordshire to become a world-leading economy."
A range of information and links with support and advice for businesses can be found on the Hertfordshire LEP's website.
Herts Industrial Strategy, business support and other information can be found here.
The Herts Growth Hub Toggle accordion
Information about The Herts Growth Hub and support for businesses can be found here. See their events listing page here.
The Herts Growth Hub's COVID-19 (Coronavirus) business resource webpage can be found here.
New On-demand Videos
Visit the Hertfordshire Growth Hub website Knowledge Bank and search ‘On-demand’ for the full list of videos available.
Available to view on-demand in the Knowledge Bank after website sign-in or sign-up.
Top 5 Things to do to improve your Google ranking today
Adapting your Business to a Changing Situation with the Business Model Canvas
St Albans Enterprise Agency (STANTA) Toggle accordion
The STANTA Start Up resource centre has a wide range of information on the legal and practical things you need when starting up a business.
Find out more about STANTA here.
Support for employers at the University of Hertfordshire Toggle accordion
Hertfordshire Business School is one of the largest business schools in the UK. Find out how they can assist your business here.
Watford Enterprise Agency (WENTA) Toggle accordion
Wenta is a social enterprise that provides a 'one-stop-shop' for business support. They can provide you with a wide range of information and resources to help you start and grow your business including business advice, mentoring and training.
Find out more about WENTA here.
Support for start-ups at The University of Hertfordshire Toggle accordion
Supporting start-ups and small businesses, identifying opportunities for growth and taking businesses to the next level. Find out more here.
Oaklands College support for businesses Toggle accordion
Oaklands College is a further education college in Hertfordshire with campuses in Welwyn Garden City and St Albans, and a further training provision in Borehamwood. Oaklands college can support your business in employing an apprentice, more details can be found here.
Oaklands College also offers courses for adults, for more information click here.
Federation of Small Businesses Toggle accordion
Federation of Small Business (FSB) is a not-for-profit business organisation that campaigns on issues important to smaller businesses, offers legal, tax and employment advice and protection, funding platform, and discounted business services.
FSB representative for St Albans district: Loreta.Lingyte@fsb.org.uk, M 07464 892 681.
Find out more about FSB membership benefits here: https://www.fsb.org.uk/join-us/membership.html
Find out more about FSB’s policy work here: https://www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre.html
Small Business Rate relief Toggle accordion
Some properties are eligible for discounts from the local council on their business rates. This is called ‘business rates relief’. Further information on all types of rate relief can be found here.
How to tender for Council services Toggle accordion
The Council uses the Supply Hertfordshire procurement portal for all tender opportunities. Find out more and apply here.
Guide to preventing cyber threats Toggle accordion
Grant Thornton offers an A-Z of cyber security, highlighting some revealing statistics around cyber attacks and identifying common cyber risks shared by companies. Learn how to protect your business here.
'Business in the Community' - getting and offering practical help Toggle accordion
'Business in the Community' has distilled some of the Government's COVID19 support packages for small businesses into a checklist with tips on what's available and how to access them.
If your business can offer support to save and change lives during the COVID19 pandemic, visit the 'Business in the Community' National Business Response Network platform. If you can offer professional support, lend/donate resources or logistics then here's your way to help the coronavirus response.
'Business in the Community' is offering support for SMEs needing help with business continuity or employee wellbeing; and community groups needing help with food, technology or social care due to coronavirus.
Peer Networks Toggle accordion
Hertfordshire Growth Hub have launched their new Peer Networks initiative for small business leaders that want to grow and develop their organisation for future success.
The Peer Networks programme is a Hertfordshire Growth Hub service delivered by Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, one of the 3 Hertfordshire Growth Hub Consortium Partners.
The newly launched programme creates diverse cohort groups of individuals to collaboratively work through common business issues. Through interactive action learning, this enables the discussion of challenges and provides valuable feedback to implement practical solutions to overcome them.
The Healthy Hub Toggle accordion
Healthy Hub St Albans District offers free information, advice and support to help you stay healthy and well.
The Hub works with a range of professionals who can help you get the right service for your needs.
Please visit us at: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/healthy-hub.
Membership organisations
St Albans district and Hertfordshire based organisations you can join to network and share advice and expertise.
St Albans Business Improvement District (BID) Toggle accordion
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are private sector led, public sector supported, partnerships. They aim to revitalise their communities by delivering projects and services into the public realm within the BID area. St Albans BID is a not for profit company operating within a defined geographical area in St Albans City centre. It aims to provide additional services to people who live and work in the City Centre. It is largely funded by a levy from approximately 500 businesses in its designated area that totals around £450,000 a year. For further information see www.stalbansbid.com and www.enjoystalbans.com
City of Professional Expertise in St Albans District Toggle accordion
St Albans City of Expertise. Advice and information from professional service experts: legal, chartered engineering, chartered accountants, financial expertise/banking, planning and surveying. Find out more here.
St Albans District Chamber of Commerce Toggle accordion
Read about the St Albans District Chamber of Commerce here.
The Harpenden Collective Toggle accordion
Members only workspace and coworking community for businesses and individuals.
Read about the Harpenden Collective here.
TheBusinessesCommunity.Com Toggle accordion
Find out how the Businesses Community website can help you here.
Information on regulations and Trading Standards
Food Standards Agency Toggle accordion
Guidance and advice on food law can be found here.
Gambling Commission Regulator Toggle accordion
Find information about the Gambling Commission Regulator here.
Health and Safety Executive Toggle accordion
For information about the national regulator for health and safety matters, click here.
Hertfordshire Trading Standards Toggle accordion
The Trading Standards pages have information for businesses.
Which? Trusted Traders in Hertfordshire Toggle accordion
For more information about local trusted traders, click here.
The Better Business for All Agenda Toggle accordion
Aims to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, support growth and help regulators to better understand the challenges businesses face. Contact bbfa@hertfordshire.gov.uk or find out more here.
Sustainability
Available grant schemes
Please note access to grant funding will be dependent upon the eligibility criteria for each of the schemes. To find out more, please register on the Hertfordshire Growth Hub Website. Once registered you will be able to find more information on all the above schemes using GrantFinder - the Hertfordshire Growth Hub's online funding portal which you’ll find in the Knowledge Bank.
New developments
Herts Innovation Quarter (IQ) Toggle accordion
Herts Innovation Quarter (IQ) is "leading the development of 3 million sq. ft. of new commercial space into a zero carbon, digitally connected workplace". Herts IQ offers work spaces from offices to industrial units.
According to their website, Herts IQ is an "Enterprise Zone with a clear vision for the future and the generations to come, we encourage smart, sustainable transport, a high build quality across all new developments and the adoption of low carbon operations. We also support strong engagement with the community we live and work in."
Read more here.
Sponsorship opportunities for employers
There are multiple opportunities for sponsorship, including roundabouts around the district and our three community street festivals, which attract over 16,000 people to each event.
Roundabout Sponsorship Toggle accordion
St Albans City and District Council operates a sponsorship scheme for a select number of roundabouts, city entrance gateway signs and flowerbeds throughout the district. We also offer a select number of roundabouts for sponsorship throughout Hertsmere, on behalf of Hertsmere Borough Council.
The traffic flow rate at these sites is considerably high, making them strategic points for advertisement. Sponsorship enables organisations to promote their company via advertisement signs at these locations. Prices vary between £500 and £5000 per annum and the income generated helps maintain the district’s roundabouts and flowerbeds to a high standard.
Please see below the sites at which sponsorship opportunities are available throughout both St Albans City and District, and also Hertsmere, as of 10.03.2022*:
St Albans City and District
Site | Type | Area | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Roundabouts | |||
Batchwood | Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
Bluehouse Hill | Roundabout | St Albans | Available |
Holywell Hill | Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
London Colney Fields | Roundabout | London Colney | Sponsored |
London Colney North Orbital | High Speed Roundabout | London Colney | Available |
London Road / Highfield Park Drive | Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
|
|
| Unavailable |
Park Street / M10 | High Speed Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
Redbourn Bypass | Roundabout | Redbourn | Sponsored |
Redbourn Chequers | Roundabout | Redbourn | Sponsored |
St Peters | Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
Station Road | Roundabout | Wheathampstead | Sponsored |
The Noke | High Speed Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
Tippendell Lane | High Speed Roundabout | St Albans | Sponsored |
Walkers Road | Roundabout | Harpenden | Sponsored |
Flowerbeds | |||
Cricketers | Flowerbed | St Albans | Sponsored |
Hatfield Road | Flowerbed | St Albans | Sponsored |
City Entrance Gateway Signs | |||
Colney Heath Lane | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
Harpenden Road | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
Hatfield Road | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
Hemel Hempstead Road | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Available |
London Road | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
Redbourn Road | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
Sandpit Lane | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
St Albans Road, Sandridge | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
Watford Road | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Available |
Watling Street | City Entrance Gateway Sign | St Albans | Sponsored |
You can view the location of each of these sites on the St Albans City and District Roundabout Location Map.
Hertsmere
Site | Type | Area | Availability |
---|---|---|---|
Roundabouts | |||
A1 Junction, Newark Green | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Sponsored |
Aldenham Road / Bushey Grove Leisure | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Sponsored |
Centennial Way | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Sponsored |
Furzehill Road / Barnet Road / Farriers Way | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Available |
Shenley Road / Tesco / McDonalds | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Sponsored |
South Mimms Services | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Available |
St Peters Triangle | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Available |
Trotters Bottom | Roundabout | Hertsmere | Available |
You can view the location of each of these sites on the Hertsmere Roundabout Location Map.
If you are a local organisation or company interested in sponsoring one of these roundabouts, flowerbeds or city entrance gateway signs, please contact roundabouts@stalbans.gov.uk for further information and for prices.
*If the site at which you wish to advertise is currently already sponsored, please contact the Parks and Green Spaces Team at roundabouts@stalbans.gov.uk to be added to a waiting list. Sponsorship contracts are reviewed annually in April.
Event sponsorship Toggle accordion
St Albans District Council holds three major community events each year:
- The Alban Street Festival (next held in June 2022)
- St Albans Food and Drink street 'Feastival' (Sunday 26 September 2021)
- St Albans Christmas Cracker (Sunday 21 November 2020)
Attendance at our events continues to be strong, with each one attracting in excess of 16,000 visitors.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities at our community events, please contact events@stalbans.gov.uk.
Trading opportunities for businesses
If you would like to apply for a market stall:
Go to the online application form for a stall at St Albans Charter Market
Go to the online application form for a stall at St Albans Farmers Market
If you would like to apply to trade at one of the community events: