Enterprise Ireland has brought a major trade mission to Manchester as Irish exports to the UK climb to a record €11.1 billion in 2025, up 10% year on year. The latest move underlines how Enterprise Ireland is deepening commercial ties across the North of England, with Irish firms scaling operations in construction, energy, technology, manufacturing and digital health.
Led by Minister Niamh Smyth, the visit showcases 40 high-growth Irish companies and comes with fresh office openings, new contracts and expansion plans. For readers tracking Irish business through gov.ie, Enterprise Ireland and other state-backed export initiatives, the announcement signals the UK’s continued importance as a strategic market for Irish enterprise.
Enterprise Ireland targets Manchester and the North of England
The UK now represents 29% of total exports from Enterprise Ireland client companies, making it one of the most important overseas markets for Irish business. According to the agency’s 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey, the North of England accounts for 20% of Irish companies’ UK footprint, second only to London.
This positions the North-Midlands corridor as a critical growth zone for sectors linked to Finance, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Climate Action, Transport and advanced manufacturing. It also reflects a wider policy focus across the Department of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Public Expenditure on building resilient export-led growth.
- 38% of surveyed Irish firms plan significant investment increases in the North of England
- One in five companies expects to hire in the region during 2026
- Key opportunities include data centres, grid upgrades, water infrastructure and industrial supply chains
New Irish office openings announced
Several companies used the mission to confirm their regional expansion:
- Kavaleer is opening its first overseas office in Manchester, creating 20 jobs
- Osborne has launched its first UK office in the city, with 10 new jobs planned in 2026
- KSNPM is establishing a Manchester base to support its growing UK pipeline
- Glanua has opened a Northwest office in Newton-le-Willows, adding to its UK workforce
These announcements reinforce the role of Enterprise Ireland in helping firms translate Irish capability into international growth.
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Landmark projects highlight Enterprise Ireland impact
The trade mission also shines a light on high-profile projects already being delivered by Irish companies in the region. Sisk is involved in Manchester City’s £300 million Etihad Stadium expansion, while Techrete is supplying facade systems for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield student accommodation project, expected to become Europe’s largest Passivhaus development.
In clean energy, Activ8 Energies is expanding its UK presence following the rebrand of Low Carbon Energy. Meanwhile, xWave continues its digital health growth with deployments across NHS sites, including a rollout through the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative serving 24 hospitals and 2.7 million people.
These projects show how Enterprise Ireland-backed firms are contributing to sustainable development, health innovation and major infrastructure delivery beyond Ireland. They also intersect with broader public sector interests often associated with bodies such as the Health Service Executive (HSE), IDA Ireland, Revenue Commissioners, CSO and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in measuring economic performance and cross-border trade outcomes.
Explore more: Ireland economic growth and international investment stories and top Irish export, jobs and enterprise headlines.
Why the UK remains central for Irish exporters
Enterprise Ireland says 95% of surveyed companies view the UK as a critical or very important market. Irish firms are estimated to employ around 150,000 people across the UK, reflecting a deeply established commercial relationship that continues to expand.
The Manchester programme includes site visits, business meetings, contract signings and participation at the Global Offshore Wind Conference, where Irish companies are exhibiting at the Ireland Pavilion. That mix of diplomacy, trade promotion and sectoral engagement highlights a joined-up approach often seen across gov.ie priorities in Foreign Affairs, Transport, Education and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
What this means for Irish business
The Manchester trade mission shows Enterprise Ireland moving beyond simple export promotion into long-term market embedding. With record UK exports, fresh job creation and a stronger footprint in the North of England, Enterprise Ireland is helping Irish firms become delivery partners in some of Britain’s biggest projects.
For businesses, policymakers and investors watching Enterprise Ireland, the message is clear: Irish companies are not just selling into the UK, they are building, hiring and growing there at scale.
Article/Image Courtesy: Enterprise Ireland
