There has been coverage in outlets including Business Live, the Yorkshire Post, Press and Journal and Fishing Daily following our announcement on the winners of the first round of the £100 million UK Seafood Fund's Skills and Training scheme.
Winning projects will benefit from grants of up to £250,000 to pilot training courses which aim to enhance technical skills and increase knowledge on sustainability, and ensure a high quality of training is on offer for existing workers, new entrants and young people in the fishing, seafood and aquaculture sectors. They will also promote seafood career opportunities, raise awareness of the sector amongst young people and schoolchildren, and address access barriers commonly faced by remote coastal communities.
Regional coverage focused on individual winners from around the country, including a pilot scheme in Grimsby to attract local people into the seafood sector, and training for school leavers in Shetland going into the seafood industry.
Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:
Our seafood and fishing sectors are a fundamental part of the UK's heritage as well as contributing to food security and our economy.
The UK Government is funding opportunities from the quayside to the sales counter, suitable for young people as well as those changing careers.
It is absolutely vital we invest in our workforce so these important industries prosper for generations to come.
Our announcement also launched the second round of the Skills and Training scheme, with up to £8 million being made available to modernise training facilities and increase access to various opportunities across the UK.