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View from the Chair

Business: Good for growth, good for society

23rd Jun 2026

If you spend time with businesses in Northern Ireland, one thing becomes clear very quickly. What they do is not just about the bottom line – it is about people, progress and the quiet but constant impact that business makes in every part of society.

Having recently taken on the role of President of NI Chamber, the early weeks have been a privilege. Meeting members across the network has been a highlight and the conversations I’ve had with business leaders have reinforced my belief in the strength and diversity of our business base.

Every day, NI Chamber members are investing in people. They are creating jobs and opening doors for those starting out. Apprenticeships and graduate roles are giving young people a clear route into work. At the same time, high potential enterprises and established firms are building careers in sectors like advanced manufacturing, cyber security and fintech.

Across Northern Ireland in towns like Omagh, Kilkeel and Ballymena, local entrepreneurs stepped forward, took risks and built businesses that now compete around the world with innovative products. This is what business across Northern Ireland looks like in practice. It shapes the economy and supports wider society. When firms grow, the impact spreads – families benefit, communities feel it and the economy moves forward.

That contribution has become even clearer in recent years. Businesses here have come through a long period of disruption. Brexit, Covid and global political instability have had an impact and taken together, these shocks have delayed investment, increased overheads and forced many firms into a near-constant state of contingency planning. Despite that, the firms that I work with have kept going – they have adapted and continued to employ and invest.

That resilience deserves recognition but it is not enough on its own. If we want stronger growth, we need conditions that reward enterprise rather than test it at every turn. This is where collaboration matters.

To unlock the full potential of the regional economy we must address the barriers to growth which are well understood and on which the public and private sectors largely agree. That requires genuine collaboration within government and between government and public and private sectors, taking full advantage of the expertise, capital and experience that already exists and which business has repeatedly shown willing to provide.

Because when public and private sector leaders work together, transformational progress can follow. Other places have shown what is possible. In Ireland, for example, the Accelerating Infrastructure Taskforce is a structured panel of independent industry experts and leaders from major public bodies which advises the government on unblocking barriers to critical infrastructure delivery. We need the same sense of urgency here.

Nowhere is that more pressing than energy, where high costs and security of supply impact on our competitiveness. Business is ready to invest, but investment needs certainty. That means moving ahead with the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee Scheme, producing a comprehensive and supportive biomethane policy, and making progress on planning reform and grid infrastructure delivery.

Businesses bring a vast pool of knowledge, real-world experience and investment. NI Chamber members are ready to play their part. What they need in return is a system that listens and works with them.

The aim is quite simple – create the conditions where business can grow and succeed. When that happens, the benefits follow across the whole economy.

We are not naive about the scale of the challenge facing our economy. However, that does not mean that progress and prosperity are not possible, if we are honest about the challenges and determined in how we respond.

Growing Northern Ireland’s economy will depend on action. It will require people working together and above all, it will depend on a shared commitment to making the most of what is possible. There is every reason to approach that task with confidence.