Irish Companies Double Down on UK Investment as Exports Top 10 Billion Euros
Irish businesses are deepening their commitment to the UK market at a remarkable pace, with two-thirds of companies operating in Britain planning to expand their workforce over the next 12 months, according to a major new survey by Enterprise Ireland — a finding that underscores the enduring strength of the economic relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom despite the complexities of Brexit.
The 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey, conducted among Enterprise Ireland client companies in February, reveals that 67% of Irish firms with a UK presence plan to increase their headcount in the coming year. A further 60% are increasing their overall UK investment, with 22% planning what the survey describes as significant increases. Enterprise Ireland client companies now employ approximately 150,000 people across the UK, and their exports to the British market reached 10.5 billion euros in 2024 — the first time the figure has surpassed the 10 billion euro mark.
Background
The economic relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom is one of the most significant bilateral trading relationships in Europe. The two countries share a land border, a common travel area, deep cultural ties, and decades of integrated supply chains and business relationships. Brexit, which took effect in January 2021, introduced new barriers to trade and movement that many feared would fundamentally damage this relationship — including customs checks, regulatory divergence, and increased administrative burdens for businesses trading across the Irish Sea.
Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for supporting Irish businesses in international markets, has played a central role in helping Irish companies navigate the post-Brexit landscape. The agency provides financial support, market intelligence, and practical assistance to Irish firms seeking to maintain and grow their UK presence. The 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey is the most comprehensive assessment yet of how Irish businesses are faring in the British market, and its findings are broadly positive — suggesting that Irish companies have adapted to the new trading environment with considerable resilience.
Confidence in the UK market among surveyed companies stands at 7.8 out of 10, and 36% of firms without a current UK presence are planning to hire their first UK-based employees in 2026. These figures suggest that the Irish business community sees the UK not as a market in retreat but as one with significant growth potential — a view that is supported by the record export figures and the scale of planned investment.
Key Developments
Jenny Melia, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, said the findings demonstrate that Irish business in the UK has evolved from a traditional export model into a deeply embedded, operationally committed presence at the heart of the UK economy. Some 64% of surveyed companies maintain a physical UK footprint, with 35% having expanded to multiple locations across Britain.
London remains the primary hub for Irish companies, particularly in fintech, software, and professional services, accounting for 23% of the Irish business footprint. However, the North-Midlands corridor — crucial for engineering, construction, and manufacturing — represents 36% of the total footprint. In Scotland, Irish engineering firms are playing a key role in the energy transition, contributing to offshore wind projects and grid upgrades. Notable examples include Sisk Group, which recently completed the £350 million expansion of Manchester's Etihad Stadium and has been appointed to build a Children's Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Version 1, Ireland's largest home-grown technology company, has announced 1,000 UK AI-related jobs and a £40 million investment programme.
To address the logistical challenges created by Brexit, An Post has launched a new UK Direct service in partnership with Royal Mail, designed to help Irish SMEs access the UK's 69 million-strong consumer market. The end-to-end parcel delivery and returns solution includes advance customs payments, a three-day delivery promise, and a simplified returns system — removing the complexity, cost, and considerable delays that have deterred many smaller Irish businesses from trading with Britain since 2021. An Post CEO David McRedmond said the service reopens that market for businesses facing the challenges posed by Brexit.
Why It Matters
The record export figures and the scale of planned investment by Irish companies in the UK are a powerful demonstration of the resilience of the bilateral economic relationship. Despite the disruption of Brexit, Irish businesses have not retreated from the British market — they have adapted, invested, and in many cases deepened their commitment. This is good news not just for Irish companies and their employees, but for the UK businesses and communities that benefit from Irish investment, expertise, and employment. The evolution from a traditional export model to a deeply embedded operational presence reflects a maturity in the relationship that goes well beyond simple trade flows, and suggests that the economic ties between Ireland and the UK will remain strong regardless of the political and regulatory environment.
Local Impact
Across the United Kingdom, Irish companies are making a tangible contribution to local economies and communities. From Sisk Group's construction projects in London and Manchester to Version 1's technology jobs across multiple UK cities, Irish investment is creating employment and driving economic activity in regions that have often struggled to attract inward investment. The An Post UK Direct service is particularly significant for smaller Irish businesses that had been effectively shut out of the UK market by Brexit-related complexity — opening up new opportunities for Irish SMEs to reach British consumers and compete on equal terms with domestic suppliers.
What's Next
With confidence in the UK market at 7.8 out of 10 among surveyed companies, and 36% of firms without a current UK presence planning to hire their first UK-based employees in 2026, the Irish business community shows no sign of retreating from Britain. Read the full Enterprise Ireland survey at Enterprise Ireland and further analysis at The Irish Times.
