Hertfordshire County Council has taken an important step forward in its mission to ensure every resident can benefit from the digital world, as its digital inclusion service officially moves in‑house from 1 April 2026.

This transition marks a new chapter built on the successful collaboration between Hertfordshire County Council and Essex County Council, whose partnership has played a key role in delivering Hertfordshire’s digital inclusion programme. Bringing the service in house enables the council to tailor support more closely to local communities, strengthen partnerships, and respond more quickly to emerging digital needs.

As more essential services move online, Digital Hertfordshire remains focused on helping residents develop the skills, confidence and access they need to navigate everyday digital tasks independently. The refreshed service will continue to work across the county to ensure that no one is left behind in an increasingly digital society.

At the heart of this offer is the Digital Help Finder – an easy-to-use online platform that brings together digital support available across Hertfordshire. Residents can use the platform to find:

• Places offering free Wi Fi
• Locations where they can use or borrow devices
• Online courses and learning opportunities
• Community groups providing day to day digital life skills, as well as support with job searching and employment related digital training

Alongside practical skills support; Digital Hertfordshire continues to promote initiatives that help reduce the cost of getting online. This includes increasing awareness of broadband and mobile social tariffs available to eligible households, as well as highlighting national schemes such as the National Databank, which provides free mobile data to people struggling with connectivity costs.

By bringing its digital inclusion work in‑house, Hertfordshire County Council is reinforcing its commitment to ensuring that nobody is left behind in an increasingly digital society. The strengthened service will continue to work with partners, community groups and national initiatives to help residents access the tools and opportunities they need to thrive online.

If you would like more information or want to explore how you or your organisation could get involved, please contact digitalherts@hertfordshire.gov.uk.