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News
Hertfordshire launches green business hub
Rothamsted's involvement in newest Enterprise Zone will boost UK agri-tech.
In a move to become the UK’s leading centre for green business, Hertfordshire IQ will encourage agri-tech, environmental technology, and modern construction companies to take advantage of its market access and location close to London.
Businesses will be able to commercialise research or boost product development working with Rothamsted, as well as Hertfordshire IQ’s other two founding partners: UK built environment leaders BRE Group, and the University of Hertfordshire.
Rothamsted Research is already home to a growing number of companies that are driving the innovation in agri-tech, and this initative will take further advantage of that expertise.
Based in Hemel Hempstead, with 3 million sq.ft of development planned over the next 10 years, Hertfordshire IQ will provide sustainable, flexible workspaces, tax breaks and collaboration opportunities with industry experts to create a UK hub of green companies.
Jake Berry, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth said: “Hertfordshire IQ aims to become the leading place in the UK for businesses operating in modern construction, agri-tech and related digital and environmental technologies and the £680,000 investment from the Local Growth Fund has opened the door for up to 800 new businesses."
Enabled by its Enterprise Zone status, Hertfordshire IQ will also boost investment in local travel, transport and digital connectivity for the area and the new commercial zone will offer businesses a flexible mix of work spaces from offices, co-working space, research and development labs to light industrial and warehousing.
Along with tax breaks and opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders, businesses will also benefit from guidance on how access funding through Hertfordshire Growth Hub.
Hertfordshire IQ also aims to create 8,000 jobs for local people, providing opportunities for residents to enjoy the benefits of both living and working in the local area, with new business parks built using sustainable materials and methods.
A dedicated network of footpaths and cycle routes will also help residents ditch the car for a greener, healthier journey to work.
Contacts
James Clarke
Director of Communications and Engagement
ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking
discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern
agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with
economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research,
interdisciplinary teams and multiple partnerships.
Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world:
The Long-Term Experiments,
Rothamsted Insect Survey and the
North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and
international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).
ABOUT BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid
from the UK government.
BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant,
dynamic and inclusive community which delivers ground-breaking discoveries and develops bio-based solutions that contribute to tackling global challenges,
such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we not only play a pivotal role in fostering connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system
to flourish – we also have a responsibility to enable the creation of a research culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged.
BBSRC proudly forges interdisciplinary collaborations where excellent bioscience has a fundamental role. We pioneer approaches that enhance the equality, diversity,
and inclusion of talent by investing in people, infrastructure, technologies, and partnerships on a global scale.
ABOUT LAT
The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.