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.
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.
From Exporters to Embedded Partners
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.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin welcomed the survey results, noting that Irish firms are not just trading with the UK but are embedded within it, contributing to the UK economy and communities.
Geographic Spread
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 pound 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 pound investment programme.
An Post Bridges the Brexit Gap
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. Enterprise Ireland forecasts that two-thirds of potential new Irish exporters identify the UK as their primary target market.
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. The relationship, despite the complexities of Brexit, appears to be entering a new phase of deeper integration.
Read the full Enterprise Ireland survey at Enterprise Ireland.
