A major new partnership plan has been launched to help people across Hertfordshire into sustainable work — including those facing health, confidence or transport barriers.

The initiative brings together local organisations, businesses and support services to tackle high levels of economic inactivity — with around 130,000 working-age adults in the county not currently in work. Among these, tens of thousands say they want to work but struggle to access the right help.

🤝 A People-First Approach

Called the Get Hertfordshire Working Plan, the strategy has been developed by Hertfordshire County Council alongside Hertfordshire Futures, Jobcentre Plus, the NHS, employers, colleges and community groups. Its goal is to make it easier for residents to overcome the barriers holding them back from employment.

Key commitments include:

• Supporting more people with long-term health conditions into work, with joined-up health and employment help.

• Reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

• Helping local employers retain staff and adapt roles to support wellbeing.

• Encouraging career progression, not just job entry.

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• Improving access to jobs across Hertfordshire — from small towns to new communities.

These commitments make up what partners are calling the "Hertfordshire Pledge" — a shared promise to act together over the next decade to create more inclusive opportunities for residents.

📣 Local Voices on the Plan

Health leaders say the scheme recognises the real obstacles many people face when trying to get into work: from long-term health issues to lack of confidence or transport challenges. By linking health support more closely with job services, partners aim to make work more accessible for everyone.

Hertfordshire Futures chair Adrian Hawkins OBE highlighted that while the county's economy is strong and growing, skills shortages and barriers to employment still hold many local people back. He said the plan will bridge that gap by helping employers and residents succeed together.

County Council Leader Cllr Steve Jarvis added that the collaboration represents a practical approach rooted in local insight, and that employment access will be a key part of future planning across the county.

🧭 What This Means for Hitchin and Surrounding Areas

For residents in Hitchin and nearby communities, the plan could mean:

• Better coordinated support when seeking work or training,
• More employer engagement and local recruitment opportunities,
• Enhanced links between health services and job support agencies.

This collaborative effort signals a commitment across Hertfordshire to ensure that economic growth benefits all residents, not just a few, and that local people have clearer, more accessible pathways into stable employment.