Irish exporters are deepening their footprint in Britain, and the latest business news ireland signal is hard to ignore: Enterprise Ireland has brought a 40-company trade mission to Manchester as client exports to the UK hit a record €11.1 billion in 2025, up 10% year on year. The visit underlines how the North of England is becoming a major expansion market for Irish firms in construction, technology, manufacturing, recruitment and clean energy.
Led by Minister for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth, the mission highlights a broader shift in the irish economy: Irish companies are not only selling into the UK, they are building offices, hiring staff and taking on large-scale delivery roles in critical regional projects.
Manchester’s rise matters for business news ireland
According to Enterprise Ireland’s 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey, the North of England now represents 20% of Irish companies’ UK footprint, second only to London at 23%. When combined with the Midlands, that corridor accounts for 36% of Irish business presence in Britain.
That matters because it shows where future growth may come from. The North is attracting Irish firms tied to:
- data centre development
- high-voltage grid upgrades
- AMP8 water infrastructure
- advanced manufacturing supply chains
- digital health and software delivery
Enterprise Ireland said 38% of surveyed Irish companies plan significant investment increases in the North of England, well above the UK average of 22%. One in five also plans to hire there in 2026, making the region one of the strongest destinations for overseas expansion linked to ireland business growth.
New office openings show long-term commitment
A key takeaway from the trade mission is that Irish firms are putting people on the ground rather than testing the market from afar.
Companies expanding in Manchester and the Northwest
- Kavaleer is opening its first overseas office in Manchester, creating 20 jobs and launching a new international co-production.
- Osborne has opened its first UK office in Manchester and plans to add 10 jobs in 2026 as it grows its recruitment and talent services operation.
- KSNPM is establishing a Manchester base to support a growing pipeline, backed by Fexco.
- Glanua has opened a Northwest-serving office in Newton-le-Willows, with 10 staff already in place and more roles being recruited.
These moves reflect a more embedded cross-border strategy in today’s ireland business news landscape, with companies using regional UK hubs to serve both public and private sector clients.
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Irish firms are already winning major contracts
The mission is not only about prospecting. Several Irish businesses are already central to major projects across northern England.
Sisk is working on the £300 million expansion of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, including a hotel and fan-zone development, while also contributing to wider urban regeneration work.
Techrete is supplying façade systems for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield student accommodation project. The 3,300-bed scheme is expected to become Europe’s largest Passivhaus development, with 4,200 insulated panels helping reduce embodied carbon.
xWave, an Irish digital health company, is scaling rapidly in the UK with deployments across 24 hospitals through the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative. Since entering the market in 2023, it has secured contracts with 22 NHS Trusts and plans to create 30 new jobs over the next three years.
Meanwhile, Activ8 Energies has strengthened its UK presence following the 2025 acquisition and rebrand of Low Carbon Energy, adding momentum to Irish participation in renewable infrastructure and ireland investment news themes.
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What this means for the ireland economy
The bigger picture is one of resilience and market diversification. Enterprise Ireland says the UK now accounts for 29% of client exports, while 95% of surveyed companies rank it as a critical or very important market. Irish firms also support roughly 150,000 jobs across the UK, according to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.
For the ireland economy, this points to three important trends:
- Export growth is increasingly tied to long-term operational expansion, not just sales.
- Infrastructure, sustainability and health tech are emerging as high-value channels for Irish companies abroad.
- Regional UK cities such as Manchester are becoming strategic gateways for scaling Irish business.
FAQ
Why is Manchester important for Irish companies?
Manchester and the wider North of England offer strong demand in construction, energy, technology and infrastructure, making the region a major destination for Irish expansion.
How much did Enterprise Ireland client exports to the UK reach?
They reached a record €11.1 billion in 2025, rising 10% in a single year.
Which Irish companies announced new offices?
Kavaleer, Osborne, KSNPM and Glanua all announced new bases tied to the trade mission.
What sectors are driving growth?
Construction, engineering, manufacturing, digital health, renewable energy and creative industries are among the leading sectors.
In short, this is more than a trade visit. It is a sign that Irish companies are scaling with confidence in one of their most important overseas markets. For anyone tracking business news ireland, Manchester now looks less like a satellite market and more like a serious growth engine for the next phase of Irish exporting.
