GEC partnerships to drive Irish start-up expansion across UK
Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), Ireland’s entrepreneurial superhub, has announced a series of new routes for Irish start-ups to expand into the UK. Through a network of partnerships with leading innovation hubs across the UK – welcomed by British Ambassador to Ireland, Kara Owen – the GEC will provide start-ups in Ireland with the soft-landing supports needed to enter the country’s biggest export market. The GEC expects this strategic network to grow to 20 innovation hubs by year-end 2027.
For many Irish-founded businesses, the UK is a natural first export market due to the short travel distance, cultural similarities to Ireland, common language and its familiar business ecosystem. Approximately half of the revenues generated by GEC resident companies are through exports. However, the scale of the UK can be daunting for start-ups who often lack the networks and budget to successfully expand by themselves.
The GEC’s UK partnership network is strategically designed to focus on the regions as well as major cities. The GEC has already established partnerships with SISTER, Manchester’s innovation district; Central Tech Liverpool; and CodeBase in Scotland. The Manchester and Liverpool partnerships were initiated during a visit to the GEC in November 2025 from the then-Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham (now Prime Minister); and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region. The hubs will give founders access to local networks, workspace, universities and practical market-entry support as they explore opportunities across the UK.
The agreements are reciprocal and UK-based start-ups can now use the GEC as a landing point in Ireland and connect into the Irish business and innovation ecosystem. Over the last 25 years, the GEC has supported more than 1,500 start-ups. Its 160 resident businesses generated a combined turnover of €140M in 2025, including €73M in exports.
Scaling and international expansion will be a focus of the GEC’s 25th anniversary Startup to Scale Conference on Wednesday 7th October, which will be attended by Minister Peter Burke, Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; and the British Ambassador to Ireland, Kara Owen. The event will bring founders, investors, policymakers, enterprise support organisations and ecosystem leaders together for a day focused on the practical challenges of growing an ambitious business – from accessing finance and navigating regulation, to building international networks and entering new markets.
Reflecting the GEC’s growing links with regional UK innovation ecosystems, a dedicated panel chaired by Ambassador Kara Owen will bring UK ecosystem leaders together to examine practical routes for Irish companies seeking to establish themselves in the UK.
Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, said: “When start-ups scale into new markets, they often don’t know where to begin. They are tasked with finding new customers, team members and growth opportunities in places where they may know very few people. The UK is a natural next market for many Irish companies, but international expansion is a significant undertaking for a start-up. By partnering with established hubs on the ground, we can reduce some of those barriers and give founders a much stronger starting point.
“Our conference is about the practicalities of scaling a start-up. We want founders to hear from people who have scaled businesses themselves, understand what investors are looking for and learn about the supports and networks that can help them grow. The partnerships we are building across the UK are part of that same approach. We are creating connections that founders can actually use – and opening doors to some of the strongest regional innovation ecosystems in our nearest international market.”
The British Ambassador to Ireland, Kara Owen, said: “Brilliant businesses will always find their way to other markets – but a soft landing and practical support can make all the difference to their journey. At a time when both the UK and Irish governments are focused on driving growth, backing innovation and helping ambitious companies to scale, these new partnerships will help innovative businesses to reach new markets, attract investment and create high-quality jobs on both sides of the Irish Sea.
“This is a powerful example of how collaboration between cities and regions can unlock economic opportunity, strengthen competitiveness and deliver sustainable growth for our communities. I look forward to participating in the Startup to Scale Conference and helping founders to uncover the opportunities that await their business overseas.”
Liz Bamber, Director of Place at Sister, said: “This partnership is creating a direct bridge between two of Europe’s most exciting tech ecosystems. It’s more than desk sharing – it’s about forging connections that help founders scale faster, access new markets and unlock new investment opportunities. Through Sister, Dublin-based businesses can access world-class talent and support through the University of Manchester’s innovation arm – Unit M – as well as our wider network. We’re excited to deepen our ties to Ireland and power international startup growth.”
To find out more about the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s Startup to Scale Conference 2026, or to register, please follow this link. Tickets cost €25 and all proceeds go to charity.
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