Seafish launches guide to Covid business help funds
Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, has released a new online tool to help seafood businesses, including those in aquaculture, quickly identify what government financial support schemes they may be eligible for.
By selecting their business type and location, seafood businesses can access information about packages which may be available to them and details of how to apply.
The tool – which can be accessed here - covers seafood sector specific packages and those open to businesses more generally from the UK Government and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Various packages
Aoife Martin, director of operations at Seafish, said: “With various support packages for seafood businesses and announcements from each of the home nations in recent weeks, businesses may have found it difficult to keep track of exactly what help they are eligible for.
“We have collated the relevant information into our financial support measures tool to provide businesses throughout the seafood supply chain with a quick and easy way to identify the government support that can help them through this challenging time.
“We also provided economic data and analysis to the governments to allow them to develop support packages tailored for the seafood industry. We’re also supporting industry with similar queries and continue to respond to all of these requests.”
The coronavirus section of the Seafish website also contains a list of other sources of advice and support for individuals and businesses in seafood, as well as updates on the work that Seafish is doing to support the sector through the current situation.
Applications suspended
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government’s £45 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund for businesses impacted by Covid-19 will pause for live applications from 5pm today to allow partners to conduct a detailed review of the initial submissions received.
The aim is to reopen the needs-based fund next week, after the agencies running have been able to assess the viability and vulnerability of each business applicant and how vital each is to the future of Scotland’s economy.
Agencies administering the fund include Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, VisitScotland and Creative Scotland.
