Council’s new strategy aims to build strong and sustainable local economy

The strategy, which was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday 3 March, aims to create an economy that is thriving, inclusive and sustainable by building on the borough’s existing strengths and addressing key challenges to growth.

Informed by a detailed evidence base, the strategy focusses on five local priorities: A resilient and diverse economy, supporting a vibrant business community, economic and social infrastructure, thriving town centres, and a high-skills economy.

A set of goals has been developed to support these priorities, together with actions for the council and partner organisations to take to strengthen the local economy and accelerate growth. The six goals are:

• Boosting the borough’s growth potential by building on existing strengths and aligning with high-growth sectors such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
• Supporting the delivery of new employment space tailored to the needs of local businesses, with the aim of attracting a diverse range of enterprises including micro-businesses, startups, and large employers.
• Diversifying town centres with cultural programmes and events to increase footfall, benefiting both residents and businesses.
• Supporting the delivery of high-quality new homes to improve housing affordability and strengthen the local labour market.
• Developing a support ecosystem for businesses and upskilling opportunities so that local employers and residents have access to the skills they need to thrive.
• Improving transport connectivity to unlock investment and make the borough a more attractive place to do business.

The strategy aims to ensure all residents benefit from growth - especially those on the lowest incomes - by strengthening business support, improving skills and employment opportunities, enhancing connectivity, revitalising town centres, and enabling more high‑quality, affordable homes.

Councillor Astrid Scott, Executive Member for Finance, said:

“Our borough has a proud history of enterprise and innovation, putting it in an excellent position to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the industries of the future.

“This comprehensive strategy sets out how we can build on our strengths, revitalise our towns, and make Welwyn Hatfield an even better place to start, grow and run a business.

“Working closely with our partners, we will ensure that growing prosperity and achieving our environmental goals go hand in hand, helping us to build an economy that is inclusive, sustainable, and fit for the future.”

The full strategy is available to read on the council’s website.