That is the clear message from Enterprise Ireland’s 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey, which captures the depth of the Irish business footprint across every UK region – and the scale of the investment still to come.
The 2026 survey reveals a relationship that has been maturing for decades: the evolution of Irish business in the UK from a traditional export-oriented model into a deeply embedded, operationally committed presence at the heart of the UK economy.
Enterprise Ireland published its 2026 UK Market Sentiment Survey last week. It found that 64pc of Irish companies surveyed now have a physical presence in the UK, with more than one third of those operating multiple UK sites.
The scale of this investment is reflected in the breadth of Irish activity
Enterprise Ireland companies such as Fexco, Version 1, Sisk Group, EPS Group, EVM and Kirby Engineering are building teams, expanding operations and embedding further into supply chains from the south coast right up to Scotland.
And Irish companies are doubling down.
About 60pc of those with a presence plan to increase investment in the year ahead, with 22pc of them planning significant investment, while 67pc expect to grow their UK workforce. These figures speak to strong confidence in the market and a deepening commitment to local economies.
The scale of this investment is reflected in the breadth of Irish activity in the UK’s priority sectors.
In the north of England and midlands, home to 36pc of the surveyed companies’ business activity in Britain, Irish engineering, manufacturing and construction firms are working at the coalface of the region’s biggest challenges: including high-voltage grid upgrades, water infrastructure, data centres and manufacturing.
In London, where 23pc of the Irish firms are based, our software firms are scaling rapidly alongside the capital’s digital and fintech economy.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, Irish engineering expertise is playing a vital role in offshore wind, battery energy storage systems and the overhaul of grid networks. This is work that directly aligns with energy transition goals. Irish companies are also expanding in Wales, Northern Ireland and the south of England, where they are supporting life sciences, NHS procurement needs, aerospace and critical tech corridors.
What stands out most in this year’s survey is not just the scale of activity but the strength of sentiment behind it: 95pc of respondents ranked the UK as a critical or very important market, and companies recorded an average confidence score of 7.8 out of 10 in their ability to capitalise on UK opportunities.
That confidence is shared across every sector, from construction and engineering to software, life sciences and professional services. Today, Irish companies employ around 150,000 people in the UK, benefitting both Irish and British economies.
The context for this momentum is clear: Irish capabilities are meeting the UK’s most urgent priorities. And through our Enterprise Ireland offices in London, Manchester and Scotland, we are supporting companies at every stage of their journey.
As the Taoiseach noted on the launch of the survey, this is a relationship that is strong, enduring and accelerating.
As we look to the years ahead, the message from Irish businesses is unmistakable: they are committed to the UK, invested in the UK, and ambitious about the role they will continue to play in its growth.
Deirdre McPartlin is head of UK, Nordics and new exporters at Enterprise Ireland