Angling Trust

What Angling Trust does

The Angling Trust is a private not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and the Government-recognised National Governing Body for angling in England. Formed in 2009 through the merger of six legacy angling federations (and expanded in 2012 by absorbing the Angling Development Board and later the Confederation of English Fly Fishers and England Ladies Fly Fishers), it provides unified representation across the coarse, game and sea angling disciplines. Its core deliverables fall into five buckets: membership services (£29-£36 individual subscriptions, club, fishery, federation, charter boat and trade associate tiers), legal protection via the affiliated Fish Legal association (which uses 30% of individual membership fees to fund environmental litigation), participation development through the Environment Agency-funded Get Fishing campaign, environmental and access campaigning (Anglers Against Pollution, Anglers Against Litter, We Fish as One), and a national competitions and coaching infrastructure including Team England and the British Carp Angling Championships.

The organisation is primarily funded by a mix of membership subscriptions, Environment Agency contracts (the National Angling Strategic Services contract, extended to March 2028) and Sport England participation grants, supplemented by donations, legacies, merchandise, and the Anglers Lottery. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through anglingtrust.net with parallel reach via Trade Associate Members (Daiwa, Shimano, Korda, Angling Direct, Preston Innovations, Avid Carp, Matrix, among others), beginner events, and competitions. It operates from a headquarters in Leominster, Herefordshire, with regional fisheries enforcement and management advisor coverage across eight English regions, and has extended its representative remit to selected Welsh issues in partnership with Visit Wales and Natural Resources Wales.

The technology footprint is modest and largely off-the-shelf: a website and member portal, an interactive Find Fishing Info Map, the FishNET Learning Hub, and an Event Marketplace integrated with swimbooker for coach-led event bookings. There are no proprietary AI/ML systems, no mobile app, and no public API or SDK. The Water Quality Monitoring Network operates as a citizen-science data collection initiative rather than an analytical platform. The strategic trajectory is set by the "Fishing for Good" Strategic Plan 2023-2028, with expansion into wellbeing angling and migrant angler integration via the Building Bridges Project, alongside continued regulatory advocacy through Fish Legal.

Name

Angling Trust

Legal name

Angling Trust Limited

Website

https://anglingtrust.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Angling Trust is a not-for-profit, Government-recognised National Governing Body for angling in England, delivering membership services, Fish Legal environmental litigation, participation programmes, competitions, coaching and environmental campaigning funded by member fees, Environment Agency contracts, and Sport England grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Angling Governing Body and Membership Services

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

Keywords

• Angling membership services
• Fisheries conservation advocacy
• National governing body
• Sport participation campaigns
• Fisheries legal protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Leominster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees from individual anglers, clubs, fisheries, federations, consultatives, charter boats, and retail associates. Fees range from free for juniors to £33-36 for adults, £29-31 for seniors and young adults, and £500 for life membership.
2. Environment Agency Contract: Funding from the Environment Agency for delivering services including Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, angling participation work, and other projects funded through fishing licence income.
3. Sport England Funding: Funding for angling participation work, including sea angling participation projects and competitions.
4. Donations and Legacies: One-off and monthly donations from supporters, as well as legacy donations through wills.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Anglers Against Pollution merchandise including clothing through Weird Fish and the Angling Trust online store, supporter packs, and Richard Wheatley fly boxes.
6. Anglers Lottery: Prize draws run throughout the year providing donations to support the organization's work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Angling Trust is the Government-recognised National Governing Body for angling in England, selling paid memberships to individual anglers, clubs, syndicates, fisheries, federations, consultatives, charter boats and trade associates. Core membership benefits include up to £10m public liability and personal accident insurance, member discounts on tackle and day tickets, eligibility for national competitions and Team England selection, and access to legal protection through affiliated Fish Legal. The organisation also runs national campaigns (Get Fishing, Get Fishing for Wellbeing, Anglers Against Pollution, Anglers Against Litter, We Fish as One), delivers fisheries enforcement support, administers Environment Agency grant funding, and operates coaching qualifications.

Product overview

The Angling Trust is a not-for-profit National Governing Body for angling in England, offering a unified membership platform with multiple product categories including individual and organizational memberships, legal services through Fish Legal, participation initiatives (Get Fishing Campaign, Get Fishing for Wellbeing), environmental campaigns (Anglers Against Pollution, Anglers Against Litter), competition management (Angling Competitions Programme, Team England), coaching qualifications, fisheries funding (Angling Improvement Fund, Fisheries Improvement Programme), enforcement support services (Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, Voluntary Bailiff Service), community engagement (Building Bridges Project, We Fish as One), educational resources (FishNET Learning Hub), and an interactive fishing information map. The organization is funded through membership subscriptions, Environment Agency contracts, and Sport England funding, with 30% of individual membership fees supporting Fish Legal's work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fish Legal: A separate membership association that uses the law to protect fish stocks and the rights of its members throughout the UK. Previously known as the Anglers' Conservation Association, founded in 1948.
• Get Fishing
• Anglers Against Pollution
• We Fish as One
• Get Fishing for Wellbeing
• Team England

Products and services

• Individual Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped 37,000 people try fishing for the first time in 2019-20
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Environment AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The Environment Agency is the primary strategic partner, awarding the National Angling Strategic Services contract to the Angling Trust in 2015 (extended until March 2028). The EA funds services including Fisheries Enforcement Support Service, angling participation work (Get Fishing), predation advice, invasive species campaigns, and the Angling Improvement Fund. This funding comes from fishing licence income.
• Canal & River TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanal & River Trust is a health and wellbeing charity caring for 2,000 miles of waterways. They deliver the Let's Fish recruitment programme working with and partly funded by the National Angling Strategic Services contract delivered by the Angling Trust. They are a key stakeholder in the Angling for Good strategy.
• Get Hooked on Fishing (GHoF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHoF is an angling charity that since 2000 has helped create positive opportunities for young people, families and communities through fun, interactive activities across the UK. They are supported by the Angling Trust and Environment Agency.
• Angling DirectmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. No.1 online tackle shop in UK with over 15,000 items in stock. Major retailer partner supporting the Angling Trust's work.
• DaiwamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. Leading rod and pole manufacturer with the most advanced manufacturing plant outside the Far East. Long-standing reputation for quality.
• ShimanomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. Renowned worldwide for trusted, high-quality fishing tackle. Mission to promote health and happiness through enjoyment of nature.
• KordamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. Develops and manufactures carp fishing terminal tackle with each product produced to exacting standards. Also produces angling films.
• Avid CarpmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. Since 2010, has become a widely known and respected Carp fishing tackle brand catering for different fishing styles and abilities.
• Preston InnovationsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. Aimed at the serious match angler, offering a wide range of quality products from casual angler to professional match winners.
• MatrixmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrade Associate Member. Products for every coarse, carp and match angler from seat boxes to rig storage, luggage to leads.
• Weird FishminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Anglers Against Pollution campaign, donating £5 for every AAP T-shirt sold.
• Missing Salmon AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Angling Trust supports the Missing Salmon Alliance, working to address declining salmon populations.
• Visit Wales / Natural Resources Wales (NRW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Angling Trust partners with Visit Wales and NRW to promote Fishing in Wales, extending its representative role to cover Wales on selected issues.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• British Canoeing: UK National Governing Body for paddlesport with Sport England recognition, participation programmes, competition management, and trade partnerships. Closely analogous structure and funding base to the Angling Trust, including the same Sport England recognition and EA-aligned environmental remit around waterway access.
• Royal Yachting Association: UK NGB for sailing and boating with a comparable membership model, participation programmes, instructor/coach licensing, and trade partner network of boat manufacturers and chandleries. Like the Angling Trust, it receives Sport England recognition and operates competitions across multiple disciplines.
• Swim England: Aquatic sport NGB with the same Sport England recognition, public health positioning, membership tiers, and participation programme emphasis as the Angling Trust. Particularly relevant given both organisations operate in the water environment and rely on similar public-funder relationships.
• England Athletics: England NGB for athletics with Sport England recognition, club/facility membership tiers, competition programmes (including national championships), and coach education pathways. Operates a directly comparable governance and funding model.
• England Boxing: England NGB for boxing with similar Sport England recognition, club membership model, safeguarding and coach licensing functions, and participation development remit. Closely comparable in organisational scale and structure.
• British Rowing: NGB for rowing with similar Sport England recognition, membership tiers, competition organisation (including national championships), and coach licensing. Comparable scale, governance model, and revenue mix (membership plus public funding).
• British Mountaineering Council: UK NGB for climbing and mountaineering with analogous membership structure, Sport England recognition, regional access representation, and conservation advocacy. Comparable in scale and operating model to the Angling Trust.

Broad incumbents

• Sport England: The principal public funder of the Angling Trust and the umbrella body recognising it as NGB. While not a peer in the competitive sense, Sport England's broader funding strategy directly determines the Trust's grant allocations and policy environment.
• British Cycling: Larger UK NGB for cycling with the same Sport England recognition but materially greater scale, commercial revenue, and brand reach. Comparable in operating model but offers overlapping membership and participation services as part of a much broader portfolio.

Others

• Canal & River Trust: Health and wellbeing charity caring for 2,000 miles of UK waterways and an Angling Trust strategic partner that delivers the Let's Fish recruitment programme under the National Angling Strategic Services contract. Comparable in environmental/waterway remit but not a direct competitor — serves as both a delivery partner and an adjacent stewardship organisation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/anglingtrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Angling Trust