Economic Development Update

Cabinet 18 April 2013

Retail and Public Realm• City centre management partnership • City centre events - Festival, Olympic Torch Relay and

Food & Drink Festival• Retailer of Year, Festive Pub of Year, Festive Shop Window

• Christmas market and other specialist markets• 22 new free 1 hr on street parking spaces in St Albans city

centre - additional spaces being investigated • 130 parking spaces increased from 1 to 2 hrs free parking

in Harpenden – 10 reduced to 30 mins free parking in high use areas

• Two monolith signs - St Albans city station/Town Hall - five planned

Business Friendly• Cross-council officer group includes planning, regulatory

services and business rates

• Opportunities for local business in Council procurement

• Working with BT and the County Council to improve broadband www.superfastforherts.org

Visitor Economy• www.enjoystalbans.com

• St Albans Visitor Economy Strategy www.stalbans.gov.uk/visitor-strategy

• Co-ordinated programme of events and public realm improvements

Developing the District’s Strengths

• The Green Triangle – centre for excellence for green innovation and technology

• Professional services cluster – centre for professional services e.g. accountancy, law and consultancy firms

• Creative and cultural industries – strong skills and popular location close to London and film studios e.g. Leavesden and Elstree

ObjectivesTo make a major contribution to economic growth To develop green technology enterprise in the area To attract and retain skills and talent in environmental research and its application To attract inward investment To provide infrastructure linking green research, science, engineering and technology enterprises To assist the growth of new small businesses associated with green enterprise To showcase St Albans as a high quality, sustainable District

[draft]

The Green Triangle

The Green Triangle• BRE, Rothamsted Research, University of Hertfordshire

• Promote the district as national centre for green innovation and technology

• Developing vision and objectives to raise profile of Green Triangle

• Lobbying Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

Professional Services

St Albans City & District Council

Professional services - accountancy, legal,

financial and consultancy. Kingston Smith LLP

Handelsbanken

SA Law

PwC

Debenhams Ottaway

Aon Hewitt

Deloitte

St Albans - a professional services hub

Professional Services• 3rd highest proportion of higher and intermediate

managerial/administrative/professional occupations (Source: Census 2011)

• Working with local firms to explore the potential to promote professional services hub

• Meetings with key companies

• Sponsored the District Chamber of Commerce Annual Community Business Awards, Green Business Category

Also creative and cultural industries• Private Bill to make location filming in Hertfordshire easier

Strengthening District’s Workforce• Oaklands College, JobcentrePlus and St Albans District

Centre for Voluntary Service, University of Hertfordshire

• Your Future Fair - Oaklands College, attended by 800 people

• Dragons’ Apprentice Challenge 2013 www.cvsstalbans.org.uk/cvsstalbans-dragon/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=9906

• Management Forum - job club to help redundant executives back into work