Irish companies are deepening their footprint in northern England, and the latest move into Manchester shows how fast that expansion is accelerating. In a notable development for business news ireland readers, Enterprise Ireland has brought 40 high-growth companies to Manchester as client exports to the UK hit a record €11.1 billion in 2025, up 10% year on year.
The trade mission, led by Minister for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth, reflects a wider push to strengthen Ireland’s export resilience. It also underlines how the UK remains central to Ireland’s commercial strategy, accounting for 29% of Enterprise Ireland client exports.
Manchester’s rising role in business news ireland
Manchester and the wider North of England are becoming increasingly important for Irish exporters across construction, engineering, technology, manufacturing and creative industries. 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 region after London.
That matters because the North-Midlands corridor now accounts for more than a third of Irish business presence in Britain. For companies tracking ireland business news and the ireland economy, this points to a clear shift: Irish firms are not just selling into the UK, they are building long-term operating bases there.
- 38% of surveyed Irish companies plan significant investment increases in the North of England
- 20% expect to hire in the region during 2026
- Key growth sectors include water infrastructure, energy, manufacturing supply chains and data centres
New office openings signal long-term expansion
Several Irish businesses used the Manchester visit to announce fresh expansion plans, adding practical weight to the broader trade mission.
Companies opening or growing in the region
Kavaleer, the Irish animation studio, is opening its first overseas office in Manchester. The move will create 20 jobs and support a new international co-production.
Osborne, a recruitment and talent solutions company, has launched its first UK office in the city. It expects to create 10 jobs in 2026, with further growth likely as its UK client base develops.
KSNPM, a construction consultancy backed by Fexco, is also establishing a Manchester base to support a growing pipeline of UK work.
Glanua has opened a new office in Newton-le-Willows to serve the Northwest, with 10 staff already in place and more roles being recruited.
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Irish firms are landing major regional projects
The mission is not only about market entry. It also highlights how established Irish companies are now delivering some of the North of England’s most significant projects.
Sisk is working on the £300 million expansion of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, alongside wider regeneration and development work in Manchester and London.
Techrete is supplying façade systems for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield student accommodation scheme. The development is expected to become Europe’s largest Passivhaus project, with 3,300 bedrooms and a major emphasis on low-carbon construction.
xWave, the Irish digital health business, continues to expand in the UK with deployments across 24 hospitals through the Yorkshire Imaging Collaborative. Since entering the market in 2023, it has won contracts with 22 NHS Trusts and plans to add 30 jobs over the next three years.
Meanwhile, following its acquisition by Activ8 Energies in 2025, Low Carbon Energy has been rebranded under SSE Energy Solutions, a move tied to further renewable energy growth and commercial solar delivery across the UK.
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What this means for Irish exporters
For anyone following irish business news, the key takeaway is that the UK remains both a mature and expanding market for Irish enterprise. Enterprise Ireland says 95% of surveyed client companies view the UK as a critical or very important market. Irish businesses also support around 150,000 jobs across the UK, according to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce.
This latest mission suggests Irish exporters are moving beyond simple trade relationships and into deeper partnerships, local hiring and project delivery. That has implications for ireland investment news, ireland tech business news and ireland construction business news alike.
FAQ
Why is Manchester important for Irish companies?
Manchester offers access to major infrastructure, technology and industrial opportunities, making it a strong expansion base for Irish firms.
How much did Enterprise Ireland client exports to the UK reach?
They reached a record €11.1 billion in 2025, a 10% increase on the previous year.
Which sectors are driving growth?
Construction, engineering, digital health, renewable energy, manufacturing and creative industries are among the key sectors.
Looking ahead
The Manchester trade mission shows that Irish companies are scaling with more confidence in one of their most important overseas markets. For readers watching business news ireland, the bigger story is not just export growth, but how Irish firms are turning that momentum into offices, jobs and major contracts beyond home shores.
