Ireland’s export drive gathered pace this week as a major business delegation landed in Manchester, underlining how gov.ie-backed trade outreach is translating into real contracts, office openings and jobs. The latest Enterprise Ireland mission highlights a broader strategy across Finance, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Department of the Taoiseach to build resilient markets while Irish firms expand their footprint in one of the UK’s most important regional economies.
Led by Minister Niamh Smyth, the visit brings 40 Irish companies to Manchester across construction, engineering, technology, manufacturing and the creative sectors. The headline figure is striking: Enterprise Ireland client exports to the UK reached a record €11.1 billion in 2025, a 10% year-on-year increase. That makes the UK the destination for 29% of client exports, reinforcing its importance for Irish business despite a changing global trade environment.
gov.ie trade strategy gains momentum in Manchester
The trade mission shows how gov.ie priorities on market diversification are being carried into practice by agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and supported by wider state institutions including IDA Ireland, Revenue Commissioners and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). While the mission is commercial in focus, it also reflects joined-up policy thinking across Public Expenditure, Foreign Affairs and Transport as Ireland strengthens international business links.
Manchester and the wider North of England are increasingly central to that growth story. According to Enterprise Ireland survey data, the region now represents the second-largest UK base for Irish companies, accounting for 20% of their footprint, behind only London. When combined with the Midlands, the corridor forms a key industrial zone for engineering, construction and manufacturing partnerships.
- 38% of surveyed Irish firms plan significant investment increases in Northern England
- One in five companies expects to hire in the region during 2026
- Expansion is tied to energy, water infrastructure, digital systems and manufacturing supply chains
New office openings and major project wins
Several announcements added weight to the mission. Animation studio Kavaleer is opening its first overseas office in Manchester, while recruitment specialist Osborne is establishing its first UK office there and expects to create new jobs. Construction consultancy KSNPM is also launching a Manchester base, and Glanua has expanded in the Northwest with a new office serving regional operations.
These moves sit alongside high-profile project delivery by established Irish firms. Sisk is involved in the £300 million expansion of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, while Techrete is supplying façade systems for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield scheme, described as Europe’s largest Passivhaus development. In health technology, xWave continues to grow across NHS networks with AI-led imaging and clinical workflow solutions.
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Why the wider public sector context matters
The significance of the mission goes beyond company announcements. It reflects how the Irish state ecosystem—from gov.ie and Enterprise Ireland to the CSO, Central Bank and Department of the Taoiseach—supports export-led growth with data, policy and market access. For sectors tied to Housing, Climate Action, Health and Local Government and Heritage, UK expansion also opens opportunities in sustainable construction, grid upgrades, water projects and digital public services.
That matters to readers tracking state-backed enterprise development, especially as agencies such as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), An Garda Síochána, Health Service Executive (HSE) and National Transport Authority (NTA) all operate within a broader economy shaped by investment, skills and cross-border commercial confidence.
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What this means for Irish exporters
For Irish companies, the message is clear: regional UK markets are offering room to scale, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and digital health. The North of England is no longer a secondary destination; it is becoming a strategic platform for long-term growth.
- Regional expansion can diversify risk beyond London-centric markets
- Demand remains strong in infrastructure and low-carbon development
- Irish firms are increasingly competing on specialist delivery and innovation
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In short, the Manchester mission is more than a trade visit. It is another signal that gov.ie-aligned export strategy is delivering measurable results, with Irish businesses winning market share, opening offices and backing job creation abroad. As gov.ie and Enterprise Ireland continue to deepen commercial ties, Manchester may prove to be one of the most important gateways for the next phase of Irish export growth.
