GEC expands Ireland-UK startup network amid renewed EU debate

Dublin-based Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) has announced a new network of partnerships with innovation hubs across the UK, aiming to make it easier for Irish startups to enter and establish themselves in the country.

This comes amid renewed debate over the UK’s future relationship with the EU, after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said this week that options including rejoining the bloc should be considered.

Burnham helped initiate the GEC’s Manchester partnership during a visit to Dublin in November 2025 while serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester.

The initiative will give startups based in Ireland access to local networks, workspace, universities and practical market-entry support through partner hubs in different UK regions.

The agreements will also operate in both directions. UK-based startups working with the partner hubs will be able to use the GEC as a landing point when entering Ireland, gaining access to its business and innovation network.

Niamh Collins, Centre Director, Guinness Enterprise Centre, says: “When startups 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 startup. By partnering with established hubs on the ground, we can reduce some of those barriers and give founders a much stronger starting point.”

Ireland’s current startup pipeline spans a broad range of technology-led sectors, with recent EU-Startups coverage highlighting companies in AI, FinTech, BioTech, quantum computing, enterprise software, mobility and industrial technology.

Several Irish startups in 2026 are already using fresh capital to support international growth, tying directly to the GEC’s initiative.

Dublin-based fleet intelligence company CameraMatics secured up to €49 million to support expansion across Europe and the US, while Limerick-based Redfaire raised €13 million for international expansion, service development and acquisitions.

HR Duo offers the clearest UK-focused example: the Irish HRTech company raised €1.6 million to grow its UK sales operation and accelerate commercial expansion in Great Britain, where EU-Startups reported that around 75% of its sales pipeline was already concentrated.

EU-Startups estimated that Irish funding announcements had reached approximately €350.4 million by August 2026, providing a snapshot of an ecosystem producing companies across both DeepTech and software that are increasingly looking beyond the domestic market as they scale.

The British Ambassador to Ireland, Kara Owen, adds: “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.”

Founded in 2000, the GEC supports startups and scaling companies through workspace, business support and connections to national and international networks. The centre currently hosts 160 businesses and says its resident companies generated a combined turnover of €140 million in 2025, including €73 million in exports.

The UK network is intended to address some of the practical barriers faced by early-stage companies entering a new market.

The GEC has already established partnerships with SISTER, Manchester’s innovation district; Central Tech Liverpool; and Scottish technology ecosystem CodeBase, with plans to expand the network to 20 innovation hubs by the end of 2027.

For Irish startups, the UK is often an early international destination due to its proximity, shared language and existing commercial links. However, establishing contacts, recruiting locally and understanding regional business networks can still require significant resources.

Rather than concentrating only on London and other major business centres, the GEC’s approach will include regional innovation ecosystems across the UK.

Its Manchester and Liverpool partnerships originated following a November 2025 visit to the GEC involving Andy Burnham, then Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region.

Over its 25-year history, the GEC has supported more than 1,500 startups, according to the organisation. Approximately half of the revenue generated by its current resident companies comes from exports, making international expansion an important part of its work with founders.