Apply for the UK Seafood Fund: Infrastructure Scheme

About the Infrastructure Scheme

At least £65 million in grant funding is available through the Infrastructure Scheme. The scheme will fund projects that build capability across the UK seafood sector supply chain through investment in:

• improved capability at ports, harbours,harbours processing, and aquacultureprocessing facilities aquaculture
• the social and economic welfare of coastal communities
• fleet modernisation
• recreational sea fishing
• training hubs and facilities

This is a competitive scheme. To get funding, you must bid for a grant.

Each successful applicant will be awarded a minimum of £250,000 and a maximum of £5 million.

The Infrastructure Scheme is part of the UK Seafood Fund.

WhenWho tocan apply

RoundYou 1can apply for funding if you’re involved in fishing, processing or aquaculture and are:

• a public body (including trust ports, local authority ports and public charities)
• a private small-to-medium sized enterprise (SME)
• a private non-SME
• a fisherman’s association
• a private trust and foundation
• a trade association
• an officially recognised producer organisation

Lead applicant

The lead applicant is nowthe closedindividual who will submit the application. If the application is successful they will receive the grant funding and be responsible for applications.the delivery and reporting of the funded project.

RoundYou can only make 2 applications in the same round if you are the lead applicant. You can be part of other applications but only as a consortium member, not the lead applicant.

Match funding

You will openneed to provide match funding for applicationsyour inproject. earlyThe Septemberlevel 2022.of Roundmatch 2funding will focusdepend on improvedyour capabilityorganisation attype.

The ports,maximum harbours,level processing,of andfunding aquaculturefrom facilities.the Infrastructure Scheme as a percentage of total project cost is:

• 75% for public bodies and public charities
• 50% for private SMEs
• 30% for private non-SME
• 75% for private, fisherman’s associations
• 75% for private, producer organisations
• 50% for private charitable foundations

FurtherEvidence roundsof willthis openmatch laterfunding commitment is required as part of the online application. This is expected to be in 2022the andform willof focusa onletter fleetfrom modernisation,the recreationalcontributor seaconfirming fishingtheir andintent trainingto hubsprovide andthe facilities.stated amount, signed by persons authorised to do so.

Read more about the level of match funding required on page 17 of the scheme guidance (Invitation to Apply).

HowWhen to apply

DetailsRound ofone howis tonow applyclosed for roundapplications. 2Sign up to this page to receive updates on future funding rounds.

We are aware that implications of the war in Ukraine may impact the processing sector in the short term. There will be publishedanother onopportunity thisfor pageprocessors whento available.bid into the scheme later in 2022.

AskHow ato questionapply

Before aboutyou apply, you must read:

• the scheme guidance (Invitation to Apply) - this explains the requirements and criteria needed to apply
• Infrastructure Scheme agreement and terms - you must declare you agree to these documents in the UK Fisheries Support System and within the qualification questions

You can also watch the UK Seafood Fund Infrastructure Scheme - User Guide on YouTube which will take you through the process.

Register and submit your documents

1. Register and save your details in the UK Fisheries Support System (UKFSS).

2. LogDownload and fill in the qualification questions and selectcost ‘Asktemplates. aIf question’.

3. Selectyour theproject schemeincludes youstaff wouldcosts, likeyou towill askalso aneed questionto about,complete thenthe selectstaff ahourly categoryrates andtemplate a(Annex subject.D).

4. EnterUpload yourthe questiondocuments inlisted throughout the textscheme boxguidance provided(Invitation to Apply).

5. Submit your application and selectdocuments ‘Submitin question’.the UKFSS.

IfHow your application is successfulassessed

You’llYour receiveapplication awill notificationgo letter through an initial assessment to see if it meets the UKFSSqualification thatcriteria.

If you meet the qualification criteria, you will explainbe thatassessed you’lland needscored toon passthe afollowing sitetechnical visitcriteria:

• strengthening beforethe yoursupply applicationchain is- granted.scores The15%
• value Marinefor Managementmoney Organisation- (MMO)scores will40%
• deliverability contactof youproposal, directlyeffectively toand arrangein aproposed sitetimescale visit.
  - scores 15%
• fisheries health and environmental sustainability - scores 15%
• social and economic sustainability - scores 10%
• project location - scores 5%

IfYou youcan passpresent theyour siteanswers visit,in you’llyour receiveown away, notificationbut andit must not exceed the grantmaximum fundingpage agreementlimits throughstated in the scheme guidance (Invitation to Apply). This must be uploaded to the UKFSS. Youalong needwith toyour acceptqualification thequestions, agreementtotal beforeproject youcost starttemplate yourand project.any other documents detailed throughout the scheme guidance (Invitation to Apply).

YouIf mustyou declarescore thatless youthan agree50% toin any of the Infrastructureindividual Schemetechnical agreementcriterion andother termsthan inproject thelocation, UKyou Fisherieswill Supportnot System.

Roundbe 1considered fundingfor awards

You’llIf getyou ascore notification50% ofor more in each criterion (not including project location), your roundapplication 1will fundingbe awardsent beforeto rounda 2decision opens.panel.

YouRead mustSection complete3: yourevaluation roundmodel 1in projectthe andscheme spendguidance all(Invitation moneyto byApply) 31for Marchfurther 2024.details.

Round

If 2your fundingapplication awards

You’llYou getwill receive a notification ofletter through the UKFSS that will explain that you will need to pass a site visit before your roundapplication 2is fundinggranted. awardThe inMarine earlyManagement FebruaryOrganisation 2023.(MMO) will contact you directly to arrange a site visit.

YouIf mustyou completepass yourthe roundsite 2visit, projectyou will receive a notification and spendthe allgrant moneyfunding byagreement 31through Marchthe 2025.UKFSS. You need to accept the agreement before you start your project.

If your application is unsuccessful

You’llYou will receive feedback through the UKFSS as to why your application was unsuccessful.

If you’reyou are unsuccessful in roundthis 1round, you can reapplyre-apply in future rounds if you’reyou are eligible.

Keep up to date

Sign up to receive emails when this page is updated with new information.

If you have any questions

You can submit questions about the application process or general enquiries within the UKFSS.