The Irish government’s business development agency, Enterprise Ireland, has launched a trade mission to Scotland with the official opening of a new Glasgow hub.

Enterprise Ireland said the Glasgow office will act as a strategic touchpoint for Irish businesses hoping to scale in Scotland, and marks the agency’s third office in the UK after establishing operations in London and Manchester.

Along with opening the Glasgow site, ten Irish firms have also announced new contracts and expansions in Scotland, plans that are predicted to create hundreds of jobs and see millions in investment.

The news comes as Ireland’s minister for trade promotion, digital and company regulation, Niamh Smyth, visited both Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as attending a bilateral meeting with Scottish minister for business Richard Lochhead.

With Smyth’s visit, the Irish government aims to deepen economic ties between the two nations and support Irish companies in securing growth opportunities, particularly in key sectors such as offshore wind.

Enterprise Ireland said that Scotland offers one of the most mature offshore wind and renewable energy sectors, with over £50 billion worth of projects in development, presenting an opportunity for Irish companies to bring engineering, technology, and environmental expertise to new markets.

“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,” said Smyth.

“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.”

Among the companies taking a fresh stake in Scotland is Subsea Micropiles, which, following a R&D investment of over £10 million, will launch an offshore wind anchoring solution, with its first commercial installation for Orkney Harbour Authority in Scotland.

Earlier this year Subsea Micropiles announced an investment £9.2 million, led by the Scottish National Investment Bank, to expand operations in Scotland, with plans to create 100 jobs over the next five years.

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Other firms including Cleantech Civils and Uniquely have also laid out plans for new offices in Scotland, with Uniquely planning to create another 100 jobs in Scotland, while Irish outfit 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.

“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,” said Scottish business minister, Richard Lochhead.

“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.”

More than 300 Irish-owned firms currently export to Scotland, with the UK as a whole accounting for €9.97 billion (£8.5bn) in export, making up 29% of Enterprise Ireland client exports in 2023. As concerns around global trade continue to grow, with the US ramping up its threats over tariffs across industries, these ties may become more significant yet.