Guidance

UKSPF: additional information for Northern Ireland

Updated 17 April 2025

Applies to Northern Ireland

1. UK Shared Prosperity Fund Northern Ireland 2025-26: Overview

1.1. This document should be read alongside the UKSPF 2025-26 Technical Note which sets out important information on the structure and delivery of the UKSPF in 2025-26.

1.2. In Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is leading delivery of UKSPF.

This additional information should be used by applicants and by successful grant recipients (GRs) to deliver UKSPF projects in Northern Ireland in 2025-26. It includes the following:

• output and outcomes
• reporting and performance management
• monitoring and evaluation
• assurance and risk
• branding and publicity
• state aid and subsidy control.
• procurement
• equalities

1.3.  MHCLG may update this document and the most up to date versions of this, and all other relevant documentation, will be available on the UKSPF pages of GOV.UK.

2. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Outputs and outcomes definitions

2.1. An updated list of outputs and outcomes has been developed for the UKSPF in 2025-26. This is to reduce the reporting burden on GRs. The updated list provides the indicator definition and unit of measurement for each output and outcome. MHCLG does not intend to make any further amendments to the outputs or outcomes in 2025-26.

2.2. Each project commission or competition will set out the most relevant outputs and outcomes to use.

2.3. Beneficiaries (people, businesses, buildings, or areas of land) supported in 2022-25 can be supported again in 2025-26. They should not be reported again using the same output or outcome unless the support they receive is materially different to the support provided in 2023-25.

2.4. GRs are expected to take account of the outputs and outcomes reported for 2023-25 when reporting outputs and outcomes in 2025-26, to avoid double counting. For example, if an GR reported supporting 100 businesses in 2023-25 and has supported 100 businesses in 2025-26, of which 30 are receiving ongoing support that started in 2023-25 then 70 businesses would be reported as being supported in 2025-26.

2.5. Outcomes as a result of funding in 2023-25 that crystallise in 2025-26 may, where they are used in 2025-26, be reported during 2025-26.

2.6. GRs will not be expected to collect output or outcome data after the 2025-26-year end monitoring report is submitted in April 2026. Forecasts of outputs and outcomes should reflect the amounts that the GR expects to be able to report in that final monitoring report.

2.7. MHCLG acknowledges that forecasts alter as plans are refined and delivery progresses. This is reflected in the UKSPF change control process, see section three.

2.8. For some outcomes it is necessary to record a baseline. MHCLG will not provide baseline data, GRs are expected to source and identify such data themselves.

2.9. GRs should retain appropriate, proportionate evidence that satisfies their Chief Financial Officer (CFO) or equivalent that the outputs and outcomes being reported have been achieved.

2.10. A reported output must be a direct result of UKSPF activity. For example, if a skills-related UKSPF activity was delivered, it is the number of recipients of that specific activity that should be captured. MHCLG recognises that it may be more difficult to attribute and separate out the impact of the UKSPF on outcomes, which may be impacted through other channels other than UKSPF projects. Further details on evaluation and the approach to causal impacts are set out in section five.

2.11. A beneficiary of a project, e.g. an individual or business, may generate more than one output or outcome. For example, a single business may receive a financial grant as well as another type of support. In these situations, all relevant outputs or outcomes should be recorded.

3. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Reporting, monitoring, and performance management

Reporting

3.1. To ensure that the funds deliver anticipated outputs and outcomes needed, GRs are required to provide reports to MHCLG as detailed in this guidance.

3.2 MHCLG’s approach to reporting performance management is that it should be proportionate, asking only for the information we need to understand delivery progress and satisfy our own duties.

3.3 Although the implementation of UKSPF in England, Scotland and Wales has been delegated to local authorities, MHCLG is leading delivery of the fund in Northern Ireland. MHCLG has aligned the requirements for NI as closely as possible to those for England, Scotland, and Wales, but with additional information requested where necessary to reflect the different delivery approach.

3.4 GRs are required to provide formal reporting on a quarterly basis. The content of the quarterly reports will be broadly the same as it was during 2023-25, with one notable change. In the 2025-26 period, all GRs will be required to submit a quantitative report every quarter, providing a full update on spend and delivery of outputs and outcomes.

The questions GRs will be asked to report on and the data MHCLG will collect.

3.5. Report questions:

• Projected and actual spend to date, and a forecast for the next 3-month period, and by March 2026.
• Projected and actual outputs and outcomes, and a forecast for the next 3-month period, and by March 2026.
• Equalities information for service users.
• Value of match funding against the project (where applicable).
• Location of project delivery (by constituency and council area).
• Information on project milestones, risks, and procurement activity.
• Summary of progress with an overall Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rating of the project’s progress (with a short narrative update).
• Whether any underspend is anticipated at the end of the financial year, if yes, an explanation of how this will be addressed and by when.
• Details on any upcoming events, case studies and opportunities for Ministerial visits.
• An overall summary.

3.6     GRs should capture the postcodes of areas where activity takes place in order to calculate the location(s) of project delivery, for example the postcode where X is being delivered, or the postcodes of project users, to enable accurate reporting of where delivery is happening.

3.7     The CFO (or equivalent) at each GR will need to verify all returns to the department, confirming information is accurate and that the project remains deliverable.

3.8      The table below sets out the timeline for reporting.

Reporting Periods	Report Due Date	Information Type
1 April to 30 June 2025	21-Jul-25	Quantitative report
1 July to 30 September 2025	21-Oct-25	Quantitative report
1 October to 31 December 2025	21-Jan-26	Quantitative report
1 January to 31 March 2026	21-Apr-26	Final report for the funding cycle - Quantitative report

How MHCLG will use the data provided?

3.9. The data requested from GRs is intended to capture information to:

• provide a programme level oversight of the progress of the UKSPF to assure MHCLG, the Accountable Officer, Ministers, and Parliament
• support evaluation of the Fund, the principles of which are set out in the monitoring and evaluation section and are expanded upon in the Evaluation Strategy UK Shared Prosperity Fund: evaluation strategy - GOV.UK
• allow MHCLG to inform relevant government departments on the delivery and impact of the UKSPF as it relates to relevant policy areas

UKSPF Change process.

3.10 While we expect there to be some changes as the project is implemented (for example, the GR may decide to substitute procured delivery for staffing costs), the GR must only use the UKSPF funding for the delivery of the project as set out in the application. GRs may not make any major changes to the project’s activities, or outputs and outcomes, without the prior written agreement of MHCLG.

3.11 MHCLG will use monitoring returns and/or audit findings to assess project performance and may require project changes to bring delivery back on track and may determine that the project funding may be reduced if performance remains behind expectation.

3.12 If there is any slippage of costs, outputs, and outcomes beyond 20% of agreed values, in a given period, GRs are required to submit a Project Adjustment Request (PAR). These may arise as a result of:

• specific requests by a GR
• issues identified through reporting; or
• monitoring work which brings to light changes not reported by GRs.

3.13. Whilst funding may be reduced or reprofiled through the PAR process, an increase of the total allocation from UKSPF will not normally be permitted and delivery cannot extend beyond 31 March 2026 under any circumstance.

Minor changes

3.14. Where there is a cumulative variance of less than 20% from agreements, these changes should be identified and explained through quarterly reporting, and assurance must be provided about how delivery will be kept within the 20% threshold and on track to achieve overall targets by March 2026

These reports should be signed off by CFOs, Section 54 officers, or their equivalents.

Changes that cumulatively exceed 20% of original costs, outputs and outcomes, extensions to spend and any fundamental project changes

3.15. GRs must seek approval from MHCLG if changes exceed the minimum thresholds, using a Project Adjustment Request form, which can be obtained from your contract manager in MHCLG. These forms may be submitted along with quarterly monitoring or as soon as the GR needs a decision in order to progress the project.

3.16. PARs must be signed by Chief Financial Officers, Section 54 officers or their equivalents, to confirm that they recommend the proposed adjustment and are satisfied the project continues to meet UKSPF strategic objectives and value for money, with reference to the assessment criteria.

3.17. The aim is to make a decision on a PAR within 20 working days of receipt. Should there be delays, for whatever reason, this will be communicated to applicants as soon as possible. If any information is missing, then the clock will stop until it has been received in full.

4. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Payments and eligible costs

Payment of 2025-26 Funding

4.1. The Northern Ireland allocation is set out in the 2025-26 UKSPF allocations

4.2. GRs will usually be paid their 2025-26 UKSPF allocations in two instalments - June 2025 and December 2025, following agreement of a Grant Funding Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding with MHCLG for 2025-26. However, grant payments for activity led and delivered by arms-length bodies of Northern Ireland Executive departments will be paid via the budget cover transfer process later in the year.

4.3. The Second and any subsequent instalments will be subject to satisfactory performance against spend and outputs as set out in quantitative reports. If projects are underperforming, project adjustment procedures (see section three) will need to be followed before further instalments are released.

4.4. In the case of those GRs that delivered UKSPF in 2023-25 and are continuing to do so in 2025-26, underspends that a GR is holding at the end of 2023-25 will be offset against 2025-26 payments. For example:

• GR is holding £100,000 of revenue underspend from 2023-25.
• GR has a revenue allocation of £500,000 in 2025-26.
• GR will receive £400,000 of revenue for 2025-26 and retain the underspend from 2023-25.

4.5. If the value of the 2022-25 underspend held by the GR is greater than the 2025-26 allocation, the GR will be required to pay the difference between the 2023-25 underspend and 2025-26 allocation and will receive no payment for 2025-26.

Eligible costs

4.5. As set out in the UKSPF 2025-26 Technical Note (and UKSPF Prospectus) the following costs are not eligible for UKSPF support:

• paid for lobbying, entertaining, petitioning or challenging decisions, which means using the Fund to lobby (via an external firm or in-house staff) in order to undertake activities intended to influence or attempt to influence Parliament, government or political activity including the receipt of UKSPF funding; or attempting to influence legislative or regulatory action
• payments for activities of a party political or exclusively religious nature
• VAT reclaimable from HMRC – irrecoverable VAT is an eligible cost under the UKSPF.
• gifts, or payments for gifts or donations
• statutory fines, criminal fines, or penalties
• payments for works or activities which the GR, end beneficiary, or any member of their partnership has a statutory duty to undertake, or that are fully funded by other sources.
• contingencies and contingent liabilities
• dividends
• bad debts, costs resulting from the deferral of payments to creditors, or winding up a company.
• expenses in respect of litigation, unfair dismissal, or other compensation
• costs incurred by individuals in setting up and contributing towards private pension schemes.

4.6. With the exception of the costs listed in 4.6, all other revenue and capital costs are considered to be eligible for UKSPF support, providing they were necessary to deliver activity that is within the scope of the agreed project, the scope of the Fund as set out in the UKSPF 2025-26 Technical Note and relate to activity that takes place before the end of March 2026.

4.7. Each GR should define capital and revenue costs in line with its standard accounting practice, MHCLG will not provide further guidance on the definition of specific costs as capital or revenue.

4.8. No funding will be provided for activity after 31 March 2026.

Funding period

4.9. The GR’s 2025-26 UKSPF allocation can only be used to meet costs relating to activity that takes place between the 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 (inclusive). The following are not considered eligible for UKSPF support:

• payments to suppliers to provide goods that are received after the 31 March 2026
• payments to contactors for services provided after the 31 March 2026
• payments to contractors for works that take place after the 31 March 2026
• grants paid to organisations to deliver activities after the 31 March 2026
• transfers of funds from the GR to a third party to deliver activities after the 31 March 2026
• funding that is repaid or expected to be repaid to the GR by a third party.

4.10. GRs can report spend of their annual UKSPF allocation if that spend relates to activities that take place in 2025-26 and is included in the GR’s accounts for that year; including spend that is accrued in line with financial accounting standards. There is no requirement for project deliverers or GRs to have defrayed spend by the 31 March 2026.

4.11. No funding will be provided for activity after 31 March 2026. MHCLG expects underspends at the end of 2025-26 to be repaid.

5. Monitoring and evaluation

5.1 This section should be read alongside the Evaluation Strategy (see section 3.9) which sets out in detail the evaluation framework for the UKSPF. The objective of the Evaluation Strategy is to gather a robust evidence base for what works, in what context, and by what means. Working together with GRs, MHCLG and its evaluation contractors are gathering evidence to better inform future policy making at both local and national level and to ensure that future local growth spending can be focused upon those interventions that deliver the greatest beneficial impact and represent good value for money.

5.2. MHCLG’s evaluation contractors have already engaged with a number of GRs on the evaluation of the 2023-25 UKSPF programme and MHCLG intends to continue these working arrangements in 2025-26. Therefore, no further requests for engagement on evaluation are expected in 2025-26.

5.3. MHCLG’s evaluation contractors have also engaged with GRs in NI to conduct process evaluation. MHCLG also conducted a small number of deep dives on Multiply delivery in early 2025. No further requests for engagement on Multiply evaluation are expected in 2025-26.

5.4. MHCLG’s Data Protection Officer will review evaluation arrangements to ensure continual compliance with DPA 2018 and UK GDPR.

6. Assurance and risk

6.1 For 2025-26 where the Grant Recipient (GR) is a public body (a local council, a government department or an arms-length body), the assurance and risk requirements set out for Lead Local Authorities in England, Scotland and Wales will apply.

6.2 Where the GR is a private or third sector organisation, the following will apply:

6.3 GRs will be required to provide MHCLG with assurance that the Grant has been used for delivery of the Project Activities with each performance report. Reports submitted in October 2025 and April 2026 should be supported by an external assurance statement from an external assurer.

6.4 In completing the assurance statement, the external assurer is required to:

• provide details of the checks that they have taken to assure themselves that the GR has in place the processes that ensure proper administration of financial affairs relating to their UKSPF project.
• respond directly to questions addressing the governance and transparency for aspects of UKSPF grant management including, procurement, conflict of interest, subsidy control, counter fraud, and risk.
• complete and return, every six months,  an assurance statement, outlining  whether, having considered all the relevant information, they are of the opinion that the UKSPF is being properly administered; and if not, information about the main concerns and recommendations about the arrangements made to mitigate those risks should be provided.

6.5 MHCLG may, at any time during, and up to 7 years after the end of the Funding Agreement, conduct additional audits or ascertain additional information if deemed necessary.

6.6 The GR will be expected to follow open book accounting processes, sharing all relevant information with MHCLG representatives as required.

6.7 The GR will ensure all necessary information and access rights are explicitly included within all arrangements and agreements with delivery partners or sub-contractors. Where further information is required, evidence must be provided within 5 working days of a request, at no cost to MHCLG.

The GR must:

• maintain a record of internal financial controls and procedures and provide the Secretary of State with a copy if requested.
• retain all invoices, receipts, accounting records and any other documentation (including but not limited to, correspondence) relating to the Eligible Expenditure; income generated by the Project Activities during the Funding Period for a period of 7 years from the date on which the Funding Period ends; and
• ensure all delivery partners or sub-contractors retain each record, item of data and document relating to the Project Activities for a period of 7 years from the date on which the Funding Period ends.

Fraud Risk Assessment (FRA)

6.8 GRs must have a sound administration and audit process, including internal financial controls to safeguard against fraud, theft, money laundering, counter terrorist financing or any other impropriety, or mismanagement in connection with the administration of the Grant. GRs shall ensure its external auditors report on the adequacy or otherwise of those systems, taking account of the following minimum standards:

• take account of Grants Functional Standards on Fraud Risk Assessment (FRA) – pages 9-17.
• undertake FRAs at an appropriate level to each individual project dependent on risk.
• ensure that UKSPF spend is undertaken in accordance with effective fraud prevention policy and procedures, and via engagement with colleagues specialising in this area.
• ensure that relevant evidence and data to prevent fraud is gathered as part of due diligence undertaken ahead of releasing funds.
• implement reporting and monitoring requirements that will identify irregularities or issues in use of funds which can be investigated further.
• store and file all work undertaken on FRA in the event of any issues or audit requirements.

7. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Branding and publicity

7.1. These requirements relate to all communications materials and public facing documents relating to funded activity – including print and publications, through to digital and electronic materials. This includes any preparatory activity linked to the UKSPF.

UK government branding requirements

7.2. UK government publicity and branding requirements must be followed for all UK government funded projects. This includes the UKSPF. The requirements cover several areas including logo use, production of plaques, print and digital materials, and also co-branding. For more information visit: Funded by UK government Branding Manual.

7.3. For the UKSPF, co-branding is only permitted with funders, grant recipients or joint deliverers.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund specific requirements

7.4. In addition to the UK government requirements stated above, several additional requirements for UKSPF projects must be adhered to. These are listed below:

Digital materials including websites and social media.

7.5. Digital channels can provide a quick way to reach audiences and promote Fund activities. Where details of Fund activities are published on website, a clear and prominent reference to the funding from the UKSPF is to be included as follows:

‘This project is [funded/part-funded] by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.’

7.6. Where practical, project deliverers should also include a link to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund webpage and the following text (which must also be used for notes to editors):

7.7. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) proactively supports delivery of the UK-government’s five national missions: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.

7.8. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

7.9. When describing or promoting UKSPF activities on social media such as X (formerly Twitter), the following hashtag (#) should be used #UKSPF. This will be re-tweetable by UK government allowing others to follow Fund activities.

7.10. A cost-effective way to promote UKSPF activities is through the media. It is good practice to develop press releases at the launch of activities, and subsequently to announce key milestones and achievements.

7.11. Press releases must include a clear and prominent reference to the UKSPF, in the main body of the press release as follows.

7.12. ‘[This project/Name of project] has received £ [INSERT AMOUNT] from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.’

7.13. It is a requirement to also use set notes to editors in all media activities. The text to use has been provided above in the Digital Materials section.

7.14. MHCLG does not require sight of any branding and publicity activities undertaken by project deliverers while delivering UKSPF activities, but evidence of compliance with branding and publicity guidance should be retained for monitoring and audit purposes.

7.15. GRs should keep MHCLG informed of any future publicity opportunities via the regular reporting process set out in section three.

8. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Subsidy control & State Aid

8.1 All GRs in Northern Ireland must consider whether the UKSPF investment will be used to provide a subsidy or State Aid and if so whether that subsidy will contravene the UK’s obligations on subsidy control, or the Subsidy Control Act 2022, or the State Aid rules.

8.2 This includes taking account of any benefit that the GR or any of the project delivery partners may secure, and how this can be managed compliantly.

8.3 This guidance provides information for GRs on subsidy control and State Aid in respect of the UKSPF only. It is intended to provide some helpful context, but it is not exhaustive, and applicants should satisfy themselves that their project is compliant based on their own advice.

The Subsidy Control Regime

8.4. UK subsidy control guidance has been issued for public authorities to help them interpret the UK’s international obligations on subsidy control; this is also applicable for non-public organisations to understand how its principles must be applied. For more detail, GRs and any other organisations involved in the delivery of UKSPF funded activity should refer to the guidance.

8.5 Subsidy control has replaced EU state aid rules in England, Scotland, and Wales. However, there are limited circumstances governed by the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement’s Northern Ireland Protocol that mean the state aid rules could apply to any public funding to an undertaking if it has an effect on trade of goods and wholesale electricity between Northern Ireland and the EU.

8.6. GRs should work with project deliverers to understand how proposed projects can be delivered in line with subsidy control/state aid.

State Aid

8.7 GRs must apply additional State Aid tests to each organisation which may benefit from UKSPF where it may affect trade in goods and electricity between Northern Ireland and the EU.

8.8 For State Aid, the following 4 tests must be applied to each beneficiary to establish where the award will constitute State Aid.

• Is the support granted by the state or through state resources?
• Does the support confer a selective advantage to an undertaking?
• Does the support distort or have the potential to distort competition?
• Does the support affect trade between Member States?

8.9 GRs must consider whether the award meets all the tests for each beneficiary. If all 4 tests are met, then the award constitutes State Aid and must comply with State Aid law.

8.10 Non-public sector organisations will need to confirm if they are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), or if direct beneficiaries are, as different rules and exemptions apply to SMEs.

8.11 GRs will be required to confirm if the project will be funded under a framework, guidance or exemption based on the General Block Exemption Regulations (“GBER”) (Regulation 651/2014) or under the De Minimis regulation (Regulation 1407/2013) which allows aid of up to €200,000 to an individual enterprise over 3 years.

8.12 If funded under GBER, GRs should confirm under what provision, the title of the scheme, the amount of funding to be delivered under GBER and demonstrate how they meet the terms of the exemption. Applicants are also required to either confirm that the project falls within the scope of Regulation 6(5) or demonstrate incentive effect in line with Regulation 6(2) of General Block Exemption Regulations (651/2014).

8.13 GRs must also set out how they will monitor and manage the delivery of the aid to demonstrate how the provision of the aid will continue to be delivered compliantly for audit purposes.

What will happen if subsidy control or State Aid is not complied with?

8.14 MHCLG may seek recovery of funding from project deliverers where subsidy control or State Aid law has not been complied with. This sum may include compound interest backdated to the date of the award. We will include clawback provisions for non-compliant activity under State Aid rules and the UK subsidy control regime in funding agreements for UKSPF. Periodic checks of compliance with agreed processes may also be undertaken.

8.15 GRs should therefore ensure that they manage subsidy control or State Aid in line with their agreed approach and take steps to monitor this. They should ensure that project agreements with third parties are designed to enable the recovery of subsidy if it has been misused.

8.16 It is also recommended that GRs ensure that project partners are aware of their obligations and that they can recover funding from them if it is not compliantly managed or is misused.

Recording and transparency obligations

8.17 GRs will be required to record and submit information on any UKSPF subsidies awarded as part of regular project reporting. This includes how the terms of any award meet the appropriate subsidy control requirements, and how they are delivered.

9. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Procurement

Procurement

Public sector grant recipients

9.1 Public sector GRs need to ensure that the following minimum standards and legal obligations will be compliantly followed by their organisation in delivery of this fund:

• Constitution of the public body including any specific Grant / Contract rules, processes or procedures.
• Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 including any amendments or any subsequent legislation that replaces the Act.
• All other applicable legislation to activity undertaken, such as Modern Slavery Act 2015, IR35 (Intermediaries Legislation), Equality Act 2010, Subsidy Control Act 2022, etc; and
• The Government Grants Functional Standard with specific focus to compliance on following areas:
  • Fraud Risk Assessment (FRA) (PDF, 495 KB, 27 pages) – pages 15-19
  • Due Diligence (PDF, 495 KB, 27 pages) - pages 20-24

9.2 GRs are encouraged to also consider and implement wherever possible:

• sustainability and green measures in procurement plans, aligned with the government’s net zero strategy;
• innovative procurement, including the factoring in of social value into procurement; and
• government initiatives, guidance, and policy such as the Sourcing and Consultancy Playbooks, Construction Playbook, the Outsourcing Playbook, and government guidance on Resolution Planning.

It will be the GR’s responsibility to ensure that minimum standards are applied, monitored, and maintained throughout the period of the UKSPF grant.

Private and voluntary sector grant recipients or delivery partners

9.3 Where non-contracting authorities are involved in UKSPF project delivery, they should adopt such policies and procedures that are required in order to ensure that value for money has been obtained in the procurement of goods or services funded by the Grant. This should include adopting the following minimum procedures:

Value of contract	Minimum procedure
£0 - £2,499	Direct award
£2,500 - £24,999	3 written quotes or prices sought from relevant suppliers of goods, works and / or services
Over £25,000	Formal tender process

10. Equalities

10.1 The public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 requires MHCLG in exercising its functions to have due regard to the need to: eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act; advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. The protected characteristics under the Act are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

10.2 MHCLG is not a designated body for the purposes of section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, but we recognise the importance of not only meeting our legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 but also giving due regard to the additional equalities considerations that apply in Northern Ireland. In designing the fund, MHCLG have considered our public sector equality duties under the Equality Act 2010, as well as relevant Section 75 protected groups specific to Northern Ireland.

10.3 To support MHCLG in meetings its public sector equality duty and giving due regard to the additional equality considerations that apply in Northern Ireland, all GRs are required to describe how their project will impact on people with protected characteristics, including any measures to positively impact on or promote good relations between groups set out in section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010.

10.4 Public sector GRs are required to describe how the project will take account of equalities legislation, including section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010.

10.5 All project deliverers are also required, as a condition of award of funding, to collect information on beneficiaries with respect to the 9 categories set out in section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act to assist MHCLG in monitoring the equalities impact of UKSPF as a whole.