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UKSF Skills and Training Scheme projects: grants awarded in round 1

Updated 17 October 2023

The UK Seafood Fund (UKSF) Skills and Training Scheme funds projects that improve the quality of training in the catching, processing, aquaculture and recreational angling sectors.

The following organisations have been awarded grants in round 1 of the scheme.

1. Common Council of the City of London

Location: London, England

Award amount: £231,795

Defra has awarded c.£231k to Common Council of the City of London as part of a c.£309k project being delivered by The City of London Corporation’s Wholesale Markets team and the Adult Skills & Education Service (ASES) to enhance the quality of seafood courses.

The piloting of training will be completed in preparation of the opening of a new Food School at a purpose-built, 20,000 sq. ft. site in Dagenham Dock in 2028.

This project will:

• reuse the spaces once occupied by the Billingsgate Seafood Training School to pilot training for 350 learners
• prepare a suite of courses covering technical skills for all areas of the seafood sector from catch to plate

• promote seafood career opportunities and raise awareness of the sector among young people and schoolchildren.

• offer both online and in-person learning, as well as providing provision in coastal communities in partnership with regional stakeholders

2. Seafood Cornwall Training Limited

Location: Newlyn, England

Award amount: £135,213

Defra has awarded c.£135k to Seafood Cornwall Training (SCT) as part of a c.£180k project to improve the quality and range of qualifications and training available to the fishing and merchant sector workforce, both in west Cornwall and across the UK.

This project will:

• pilot 20 courses that provide certifications and qualifications which are essential manning requirements for vessels
• enable fishers and seafood workers to progress their careers
• qualify 8 tutors with new qualifications to ensure the ongoing sustainability of provision
• contribute to the professionalisation, careers and year-round employment of the fishing workforce by providing an estimated 100 qualifications per year

3. SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College)

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Award amount: £38,844

Defra has awarded c.£38.8k to SRUC as part of a c.£58.2k project in partnership with Scottish Sea Farms to develop and pilot accredited courses. These courses will provide enhanced data skills and fish health training.

This project will:

• develop courses in 3 themes: technician training, undergraduate skills development and veterinary Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• improve the skills and knowledge of technicians and veterinary professionals either currently working in or interested in diversifying into the seafood sector

• promote seafood careers by offering work placement activities to SRUC’s animal health and animal science students

• maximise the use of SRUC’s virtual learning environment to ensure course materials are accessible to workers in remote coastal communities

4. Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre

Location: Stirling, Scotland

Award amount: £249,857

Defra has awarded c.£250k to the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) as part of a c.£355k project that develops on their collaborative 2021 study identifying a need for standardising the surveillance and reporting of algal blooms.

This project will:

• provide training to progress a Standardised Operating Procedure (SOP) to monitor Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) which have direct and indirect impacts on fish health
• develop and pilot a new 6-module accredited course in collaboration with Lantra and The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) for future delivery across up to 1,500 employees. It will standardise surveillance, support large-scale data sets and underpin predictive models, thereby supporting the development of HABs mitigation

5. TEC Partnership

Location: Grimsby, England

Award amount: £20,561

Defra has awarded c.£20.5k to TEC Partnership as part of their c.£27.4k ‘Step-into-Seafood’ project, which will introduce the seafood processing sector to new entrants and provide career opportunities. Co-designed with employers and industry specialists, the pilot training course will involve the development of a vibrant and diverse integrated 5-day programme.

This project will:

• comprise of employability training and an introduction to specialist seafood processing skills
• aim to attract both unemployed and working individuals to the seafood sector, offering skills that allow progression to a range of sustainable, skilled career opportunities
• create a legacy of flexible, blended, replicable training content that can be adapted and implemented in other UK locations

6. University of Lincoln

Location: Lincoln, England

Award amount: £248,315

Defra has awarded c.£248k to the University of Lincoln as part of their c.£331k project addressing the acute shortages of skilled junior and middle managers in the seafood processing sector. The project is led by the university’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM), in partnership with the Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance (SGHA).

This project will:

• enable NCFM’s successful apprenticeship offer for a range of food manufacturing roles at Levels 4 to 6 to be adapted to meet the specific needs of seafood processing businesses
• develop a new degree and higher-level skills offer that will aid the development of aspiring managers and leaders in technical, operations and supply chain management roles
• build collaboration across the seafood supply chain, as well as with the University of the Highland and Islands Shetland, to aid the long-term prosperity of the sector and coastal communities

7. UHI Shetland

Location: Shetland Islands, Scotland

Award amount: £186,421

Defra has awarded c.£186k to UHI Shetland as part of a c.£249k project to develop courses aimed at supporting innovation and the future sustainability of the sector. The courses will be developed with UHI West Highland through 2 workstreams that target both those of school age and those working in or entering the aquaculture sector.

This project will:

• partner with industry and schools to pilot 2 courses aimed at introducing 13 to 16 year-olds to the seafood sector and seafood careers, as well as a course to help 16 to 18 year-olds transition into the seafood industry. These courses will also be usable by new adult entrants to the seafood sector
• pilot a course bringing the latest science, policy and best practice in sustainability to workers and entrants to the aquaculture sector
• provide online delivery to address access barriers commonly faced by remote coastal communities