In order to support businesses, we continue to work with the Herts Growth Hub to support businesses building business resilience and help to address rising cost through budget management, as well as utilise the Market Place to support supply chain activities.

We are supporting businesses to address rising energy costs by promoting the various initiatives and support on offer from assessing their carbon footprint and the provision of grant funding to support energy efficiency investment through the Low Carbon Workspace Programme and the Eastern Energy Efficiency Programme, through PECT.

Issues of recruitment and skilled labour force availability are being addressed locally by outlining support through FE/HE provision and the LEP through the Skills in the Workforce programme to upskill workers and through the promotion of Apprenticeships. All of this support is highlighted to businesses through the regular business update to businesses.

Cyber Security is also another concern for businesses and there is guidance for businesses on the gov.uk website. There used to be free support for businesses in Herts. We are liaising with the Herts Growth Hub on updated support.

The CBI have also produced a toolkit to support businesses impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Some of the information can only be accessed by members. The Growth Hub are liaising with the LEP to provide this dedicated information on their website shortly.