Enterprise Ireland trade mission activity in Manchester is underlining just how important the UK remains for Irish exporters. Announced on 16 June 2026, the latest visit comes as Enterprise Ireland client exports to the UK hit a record €11.1 billion in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 10%, signalling deeper commercial ties between Ireland and the North of England.
Led by Minister Niamh Smyth, the delegation brings 40 high-growth Irish companies to Manchester across construction, engineering, technology, manufacturing and creative sectors. For readers tracking developments across gov.ie, Enterprise Ireland and the wider Irish public sector, the mission also reflects a broader push by the Department of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Finance and Foreign Affairs to support market diversification and export resilience.
Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission strengthens Irish footprint in Manchester
The latest expansion drive is not just about trade statistics. Several Irish companies are opening or growing their presence in the region:
- Kavaleer is launching its first overseas office in Manchester, creating 20 jobs.
- Osborne has opened its first UK office in the city and expects to create 10 jobs in 2026.
- KSNPM is establishing a Manchester base to support a growing UK client pipeline.
- Glanua has opened a new Northwest office in Newton-le-Willows, adding to its UK workforce.
According to Enterprise Ireland’s 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey, the North of England now represents 20% of Irish companies’ UK footprint, making it the second-largest UK region for Irish business after London. That makes Manchester and the wider North-Midlands corridor increasingly strategic for expansion.
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Major projects show scale of Irish investment in the North of England
The Enterprise Ireland trade mission also shines a light on landmark contracts already being delivered by Irish firms in Britain. Sisk is working on Manchester City’s £300 million Etihad Stadium expansion, while Techrete is supplying façade systems for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield student accommodation project, expected to become Europe’s largest Passivhaus scheme.
Elsewhere, xWave is accelerating in UK digital health with deployments across 24 hospitals through the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative and contracts with 22 NHS Trusts since entering the market in 2023. These developments align with fast-growing opportunities in construction, energy infrastructure, sustainable development and digital health.
Why the region matters for Irish exporters
- 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
- The area is tied to major opportunities in grid upgrades, water infrastructure and manufacturing supply chains
This trend is relevant not only to Enterprise Ireland, but also to agencies and departments often searched by Irish users, including IDA Ireland, Revenue Commissioners, Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána, National Transport Authority (NTA), Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Central Bank, CSO and Office of Government Procurement (OGP), as cross-border growth increasingly intersects with policy, labour mobility, procurement and investment planning.
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What the Manchester mission means for Ireland’s trade outlook
The wider message from the Enterprise Ireland trade mission is clear: Irish companies are no longer simply exporting into the UK; they are embedding themselves in regional economies and delivering large-scale projects. Enterprise Ireland says 95% of surveyed firms view the UK as a critical or very important market, while Irish businesses collectively employ about 150,000 people across Britain.
For businesses, policymakers and readers following gov.ie and Enterprise, Trade and Employment updates, the Manchester visit is a strong signal that the UK remains central to Ireland’s export strategy. The Enterprise Ireland trade mission demonstrates how Irish firms are converting long-standing relationships into jobs, contracts and durable commercial growth on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Article/Image Courtesy: Enterprise Ireland
