March 13, 2026 — Cork, Ireland UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that Irish companies pledge £937m investment in UK, boosting regions like South Wales and Scotland. The commitment from 15 Irish firms, revealed ahead of the second UK-Ireland Summit, targets sectors including energy, AI, tech, and infrastructure, with an expected creation of around 850 jobs in areas such as London, Doncaster, South Wales, and Scotland.
Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement during a business roundtable with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, emphasizing strengthened post-Brexit economic ties. The pledge includes notable contributions like £170 million from Gas Networks Ireland to decarbonize compressor stations in Scotland and £45 million from AI firm Amach for aviation sector cloud-computing, creating 150 jobs.
“The UK’s close friendship with Ireland is going from strength to strength and I am pleased that we are going further in working together on growth, energy, security and more,” Starmer said. “This new Irish investment coming into the UK is one part of a much bigger picture of our flourishing cultural, commercial and security ties.”
Key Company Commitments
Irish companies pledge £937m investment in UK, boosting regions like South Wales and Scotland through diverse projects. Johnston Fitout Group plans over £3 million for new offices and a showroom in Doncaster, contributing to local job growth. Other investments include Step Telecoms’ £25 million for a 200km fibre optic link in Wales, O’Flynn Group’s £35 million for Manchester student accommodation, and Ayrton Group’s more than £1 million to expand AI services in London.
The UK government detailed further pledges: Teybridge Capital (£4.5 million, 30 London jobs), YourTeam (£5 million, 80 jobs in Edinburgh and London), and Elkstone (over £34 million for Northern Ireland startups).
Broader Economic Ties
The announcement coincides with progress on energy interconnectors, including a Wales-Ireland link to power 570,000 homes and a Northern Ireland-Ireland connector to reduce electricity costs, enhancing energy security. Irish companies pledge £937m investment in UK, boosting regions like South Wales and Scotland underscores growing cross-border collaboration in renewables and telecoms.
“As people on both sides of the Irish Sea are feeling the cost-of-living squeeze, we are investing in partnerships that make us better off and more secure,” Starmer added, per Herald Scotland.
Enterprise Ireland data indicates 64% of Irish companies maintain a UK presence, with many expanding workforces. Irish companies pledge £937m investment in UK, boosting regions like South Wales and Scotland also ties into defence and maritime security agreements discussed at the summit.
Additional Context
Focus Capital Partners committed £3 million for London operations, while Version 1 plans 400 jobs in Northern Ireland for AI and digital transformation. The full list spans industries of the future, per official statements, with no major discrepancies across BBC coverage and regional reports.