Enterprise Ireland Leads Trade Mission to Scotland to Strengthen Scottish Irish Trade and announces new Enterprise Ireland office opening in Glasgow

L-R: Sheily O’ Loughlin, Enterprise Ireland, Killian Smith, Cleantech Civils, Minister Niamh Smyth, Joe Healy, Enterprise Ireland, Jerry O’Donovan, Consul General of Ireland

• Over 10 Enterprise Ireland clients announce new contracts and expansion in Scotland, including Kirby Engineering named as preferred partner of Scottish Power as they deliver the largest-ever overhaul of the electricity grid in Scotland
• Cleantech Civils and Uniquely announce new offices in Scotland with Uniquely planning to create100 jobs in Scotland.
• Following a R&D investment of over £10 million, Subsea Micropiles, launches a pioneering offshore wind anchoring solution, with its first commercial installation for Orkney Harbour Authority in Scotland, cutting costs and environmental impact. Subsea Micropiles plans to create 100 jobs in Scotland over the next five years.
• Enterprise Ireland highlights increased growth opportunities in Scotland particularly in offshore wind, agritech and water infrastructure sectors.

Enterprise Ireland today commenced a one-day trade mission to Scotland, led by Minister Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation. The trade mission visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow will focus on strengthening trade ties between Scotland and Ireland and supporting Enterprise Ireland client companies to secure opportunities for growth, particularly in sectors including offshore wind, water infrastructure and agriculture.

Minister Smyth will attend a bi-lateral meeting with Scottish Minister for business Richard Lochhead. The trade mission programme also includes a visit to the award winning Winchburgh Wastewater Treatment Plant near Edinburgh, designed and built by Enterprise Ireland client EPS, a specialist engineering company focusing on water and wastewater infrastructure.Minister Smyth will also attend three sector roundtable discussions on Offshore Wind, Agriculture and Water with Irish and Scottish industry representatives, focused on identifying potential partnerships.

Scotland is one of the world’s most developed markets for offshore wind and renewable energy. With over £50 billion worth of projects in development, this sector presents a transformational opportunity, not only for clean energy but also for Irish companies bringing world-class engineering, technology, and environmental expertise.

The trade mission also marks the official opening of Enterprise Ireland’s office in Glasgow. With over 300 Irish companies exporting to Scotland, Enterprise Ireland’s new Glasgow office will act as a strategic hub for Irish businesses scaling in Scotland. With offices already established in London and Manchester, the Glasgow office is now Enterprise Ireland’s third office in the UK, supporting client companies right across the UK. The UK is the largest export market for Enterprise Ireland client companies, accounting for €9.97 billion or 29% of client exports in 2023. Its considerable growth potential is reflected in the 6% growth achieved in the same year.

Leading Enterprise Ireland’s trade mission to Scotland, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Niamh Smyth T.D. said: “The trade mission reflects the strength and potential of Irish Scottish trade collaboration and particularly on the offshore wind agenda, with opportunities for Ireland and Scotland to maximise offshore wind potential through collaboration on supply chain development, innovation, and policy alignment. Also given the wider context of changes and disruption in the global trading environment, strengthening our trading relationship internationally and maximising global opportunities is a priority.” 

Scottish Government Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead said “Scotland is open for business, and I am delighted to see so many Irish companies taking advantage of the wealth of investment opportunities available, particularly in our rapidly expanding renewables sector. They are creating good, well-paid jobs and boosting economies on both sides of the Irish Sea.

“These are strong foundations upon which the Scottish Government is committed to build. The current international headwinds make this increasingly important, and we will co-operate with our close partners to deepen trade relationships and remove barriers to investment.

“I look forward to working with Minister Smyth to grow the already strong economic relationship between our two countries."

Enterprise Ireland Regional Director for the UK, Nordics & New Exporters, Deirdre McPartlin said: “Enterprise Ireland’s new Glasgow office signals a long-term commitment to Scotland as a key market and will further support the success and impact of Irish enterprise across the UK, our largest export market. Scotland represents a dynamic growth market for Irish companies and its unique characteristics are best understood through a local presence. For the offshore wind sector, Ireland’s established capabilities in engineering, marine services, and grid technologies are positioning its firms as key contributors to Scotland’s clean energy transformation.”

Ten Enterprise Ireland clients today announce investments and expansions in Scotland including: 

• Following a R&D investment of over £10 million, Subsea Micropiles, launches a pioneering offshore wind anchoring solution, with its first commercial installation for Orkney Harbour Authority in Scotland. The innovative solution will help global offshore wind projects to reduce costs and environmental impact.  Subsea Micropiles earlier this year announced that they have secured an investment £9.2 million (€11 million), led by the Scottish National Investment Bank, to further advance its technology and expand operations in Scotland, with plans to create 100 jobs over the next five years.
• Kirby Group Engineering has been confirmed as a preferred partner of Scottish Power as they deliver the largest-ever overhaul of the electricity grid in Scotland. The partnership is set to last an initial five years. Kirby continues to build on its strong relationships with SSE Networks, Transmission, and SSE Renewables across Scotland, England, and Ireland.
• Uniquely, a customer service and sales outsourcing provider, announce an office opening in Glasgow with a commitment to create 300 jobs across the UK with 100 jobs based in Scotland within 12 months.  
• Cleantech Civils, a leading provider of civil engineering, design and building solutions, delivering projects across water and wastewater infrastructure and the wider built environment, is proud to announce the opening of its Scottish office in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.
• Senus, an environmental data management company announced a partnership with Scotland’s AgriGroup.
• Easyfix, a livestock comfort manufacturer announces a new distribution partnership with Thorburn focusing on East and Southeast Scotland.
• TEKenable, a leading digital transformation consultancy and Microsoft Solutions Partner, has been selected to deliver PureMalt’s comprehensive digital transformation programme. This project will modernise PureMalt’s manufacturing and operational capabilities through a Factory 4.0-ready platform, enabling scalable growth, enhanced traceability, and real-time data-driven decision-making.
• McGrath Limestone (Cong), a leading supplier of high calcium limestone products, have invested in new silos and storage facilities in Fife in partnership with JLW Solutions to secure their future continued supply into the Scottish market.
• Rubicon Archaeology, a leading archaeological consultancy delivering expert heritage services throughout Europe, has been awarded an archaeological investigations contract valued at £2m to support the construction of the A9 Dualling: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project and have announced a new Scotland office in Bathgate, West Lothian in response to the growing demand for archaeological services in the Scottish market.
• Suir Engineering, announce the acquisition of Taylor and Faser, a leading mechanical and electrical and construction engineering company, to expand its operations and customer base in the UK.
• Also, last week, Irish company Glennon Brothers announced an £18 million investment opening their new timber frame manufacturing facility Alexander Timber Design (ATD), in Irvine Scotland. The £18 million spend brings Glennon Brothers’ total investment in Scotland to over €80 million. To mark the occasion, The First Minister of Scotland, the Right Honourable John Swinney MSP, officially opened the new facility (last Thursday 24^th April), with the new facility described as the UK’s most technologically advanced timber frame construction facility.

ENDS

For reference, please contact 

Marika MacCarvill, Communications Manager – Ireland & International 

marika.maccarvill@enterprise-ireland.com / 00 353 86 171 2568