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

Visitor Economy St Albans Visitor Economy Strategy strategy 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

Objectives  To 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

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 dragon/DisplayArticle.asp?ID= dragon/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=9906 Management Forum - job club to help redundant executives back into work