North Herts residents and businesses can now access hundreds of free online courses thanks to the launch of the new North Herts Skills Hub, an initiative designed to help people gain new skills, progress in their careers, and support local employers to grow their teams.

The Skills Hub, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, provides free access to the SEEDL online learning platform, offering a huge range of courses – from IT and customer service to leadership, digital marketing, and sector-specific training. All courses are available live or on demand, meaning users can learn at a pace that suits them.

The Hub has two dedicated areas:

• Work Ready – supporting job seekers, career changers, and those returning to work.
• Work Smart – helping employees and businesses upskill their teams.

Local businesses will also be supported through the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP), which will connect them with a dedicated adviser to assess their training needs, create tailored development plans, and access recruitment support.

Cllr Tamsin Thomas, Executive Member for Enterprise at North Herts Council, said:

"The North Herts Skills Hub is about empowering people and businesses to grow. Whether you're looking for a new job, changing careers, or developing your team's skills, this free support is here to help. We're proud to invest in opportunities that benefit our residents and local economy."

The initiative is one of the first of its kind in the UK and has been launched in partnership with SEEDL, a pioneering virtual live learning platform.

Joanna Nash, SEEDL's Chief Learning Officer, added:

"Our partnership with North Herts Council is going to be game-changing for local businesses. Together, we'll help residents develop new life skills and give employers a real edge in attracting and retaining staff."

Residents can explore free courses at seedl.com/o/northhertsresidentshub

Businesses and employees can access the Work Smart portal at seedl.com/o/northhertscouncil