Funding opportunity for seafood manufacturers
Industry body Seafish has urged seafood processors to apply for grants to fund on-pack promotion of Seafood Week 2007. It has also advised that funding is available to develop firms’ export businesses.
The event, which runs from October 5 to October 12, will promote the ‘two a week’ message, which encourages consumers to eat two portions of fish per week, as recommended by the Food Standards Agency. it will also publicise the sustainable practices used by the UK fishing industry; the health benefits of fish and shellfish and the variety of products available in the UK.
A minimum of 10 grants, up to a maximum of £10,000 (inclusive of VAT) each, will be made available to processing companies on a competitive bidding basis.
Meanwhile, Seafish has set up an Export Development Fund (EDF) with a budget for 2007/8 of £75,000 to develop the UK industry’s standing in the international seafood export market. Funds will be made available to businesses after a competitive bidding process.
Regional seafood groups, national trade bodies, individual companies, consortiums and cooperatives will be eligible to bid for assistance from the fund.
Individual companies can bid for up to £3,000 per project, while regional seafood groups and national trade bodies have been invited to bid for awards of up to £40,000. In all cases, companies or organisations must provide match funding.
Examples of activities eligible for EDF support include: attendance at trade shows not previously attended; visits abroad to investigate business opportunities; facilitating visits from prospective overseas clients; market research; and translation of company literature.
More information is available at http://www.seafish.org/indexns.asp
