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 improve the UK seafood sector supply chain through investment in:

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

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

Find out about projects that have already been awarded Infrastructure Scheme funding.

The Infrastructure Scheme is part of the UK Seafood Fund.

When to apply

Round 12 is now closedopen for applications.

RoundYou 2must willsubmit openyour forapplication applicationsbefore inmidday autumnon 2022.3 RoundFebruary 22022.

If willyou focusare onsuccessful, improvedyou capabilitymust atcomplete ports,your harbours,project processing,by andMarch aquaculture facilities.2025.

Further rounds will open later in 2022.early 2023. They will focus on fleet modernisation and recreational sea fishing.

HowWho tocan apply

DetailsThe following types of howorganisations tocan apply for roundthis 2grant:

• public bodies (including local authority ports and public charities)
• private small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• private non-SMEs
• fishermen’s associations
• private trusts and foundations
• trade associations
• officially recognised producer organisations set up by fishery or aquaculture producers
• trust ports

You must nominate a lead applicant to apply. They will receive the funding if your application is successful. They will also be publishedresponsible onfor thisrunning pagethe whenproject available.and reporting on its progress.

AskHow ato questionapply

You aboutmust apply using the UK Fisheries Support System (UKFSS).

Before you apply, read the:

• Infrastructure Scheme guidance - Invitation to Apply (ITA): this explains the requirements and criteria for round 2
• Infrastructure Scheme - agreement and terms: you must declare you agree to these documents as part of your application

Register on UKFSS

The user guide explains how to register, ask a question and submit your application on the UKFSS.

1. RegisterGo to the UKFSS website.

2. Select ‘Start now’.

3. Read and saveaccept the terms of use for the service and select ‘Create an account’.

4. Read and complete each page on the system – select ‘Next’ or ‘Back’ to move between each page.

5. Once you have chosen a password, select ‘Create Account’.

You will be sent an email with a link to confirm and activate your detailsaccount.

How to submit your application

Read the:

• form of application (Annex A)
• terms and conditions (Annex B)
• privacy notice

Complete the:

• qualification questions
• technical questions template
• total project cost template (Annex C)
• cost-benefit ratio template (Annex D)

Log in to your account on the UKUKFSS Fisheriesand:

• complete Supportall Systemonline (UKFSS).fields
• upload all documents listed above and those listed under section 2, paragraph 11 of the ITA

• submit your application

Ask a question

If you’ve already registered on UKFSS, you can submit a question through your account:

1. Log in and select ‘Ask a question’.

2. Select the scheme you would like to ask a question about, then select a category and a subject.

3. Enter your question in the text box provided and select ‘Submit question’.

AttendRound an2 earlyfunding marketand engagementtendering

Each eventsuccessful forapplicant roundwill 3

Defrabe isawarded hostinga anminimum onlineof event£150,000 onand Microsofta Teamsmaximum fromof 10:30am£5 million.

Match funding

You need to middayprovide onmatch Wednesdayfunding 23for Novemberyour 2022.

Pleaseproject. doYou notmust useinclude thisevidence linkthat untilyou thewill dateprovide andmatch timefunding ofwhen theyou event.submit your application.

RoundThe 3amount of match funding you need to provide will focusdepend on fleetyour modernisation.organisation type. The eventmaximum willamount setof outfunding earlyfrom plansthe forInfrastructure roundScheme 3as including:a percentage of total project cost is:

• objectives75% offor thepublic schemebodies and public charities
• the50% applicationfor processprivate SMEs
• how30% thefor fundingprivate worksnon-SMEs
• 75% for private fishermen’s associations
• 50% for private foundations and fundingtrusts
• 75% timelinesfor private producer organisations
• 75% for public body trust ports
• 50% for private trust ports

You’llIf beyou ableare tounsure askwhat questionslevel duringof match funding you’re entitled to, please use the event.‘Ask a question’ service on UKFSS.

Tendering requirements

WeYou askneed thatto nosubmit moreevidence thanto 2support devicesthe logtender intoexercise. If you cannot provide full tenders by the eventapplication perdeadline, organisation.you must submit them by 17 March 2022.

If your application is successful

You’llWe needwill toconduct pass a site visit before yourthe applicationgrant is granted.awarded. You’ll receive a letter from the UKFSS to explain this. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will contact you directly to arrange a site visit.this.

If you pass the site visit, you’llyou will receive a notification and the grant funding agreement through the the UKFSS. You need to accept the agreement before you start your project.

Round

If 1your fundingapplication awards

You’llYou getwill areceive notificationfeedback ofthrough yourthe UKFSS as roundto 1why fundingyour awardapplication beforewas round 2 opens.unsuccessful.

YouIf mustyou completeare yourunsuccessful roundin 1this projectround, andyou spendcan allre-apply moneyin byfuture 31rounds Marchif 2024.you are eligible.

Round

Attend 2an fundingearly awards

You’llDefra getis ahosting notificationan ofonline yourevent roundon 2Microsoft fundingTeams awardfrom in6pm earlyto February7pm on Wednesday 7 December 2023.

YouPlease mustdo completenot youruse roundthis 2link projectuntil andthe spenddate alland moneytime byof 31the March 2025.event.

If your application is unsuccessful

IfRound your4 applicationwill isfocus unsuccessfulon you’llrecreational receivesea feedbackfishing. throughDuring the UKFSSevent tellingwe you why.will:

If

• set you’reout unsuccessfulearly inplans for round 14 youincluding maythe scheme objectives
• gather feedback for the round

You’ll be able to reapplyask inquestions futureduring rounds.the event.

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 UKFSSUK Fisheries Support System.