Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emerging sectors

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 10 Jul 2025 Parliament page
Kickstarting economic growth is the number one mission for this Government’s term in office. In this inquiry, the committee will examine plans to deliver economic growth in Northern Ireland, including the recent UK Industrial Strategy, with a particular reference to emerging sectors or ‘industries of the future’. Read our call … Read more
3 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
1 Letter
4 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
3 Jun
2026
Oral evidence
3 Jun
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
23 Mar
2026
Report published
4 Mar
2026
Correspondence
4 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
4 Feb
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
7 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
7 Jan
2026
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
19 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
19 Nov
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
3 Jun 2026
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Richard Williams · Northern Ireland Screen Sam Turner · Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Queen's University Belfast Shane Corcoran · RenewableNI Steven Morrison · Agrifood and Bioscience Institute
4 Feb 2026
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Colin McCabrey · InterTradeIreland The Rt Hon. the Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee DBE · Intertrade UK
7 Jan 2026
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Alison McCullagh · Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Councillor Tim McClelland - Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) Steven Norris · Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
19 Nov 2025
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David Quinn · Queen's University Belfast Professor Paul Bartholomew · Ulster University Robert Hill · Matrix Panel Stuart Anderson · Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report – Economic growth in Northern Ireland: new and emergi… HC 1193 23 Mar 2026 13 Overdue
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
1 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy identifies eight sectors that will drive growth, and these map...
The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy identifies eight sectors that will drive growth, and these map well on to Northern Ireland’s sectoral strengths, as well as the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy’s sectoral plans. There are, however, a multiplicity of … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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2 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The UK Government and NI Executive need to work together more closely on economic issues,...
The UK Government and NI Executive need to work together more closely on economic issues, aligning their strategies and co-ordinating their delivery. The NIO should set this out in the “economic vision” referred to in its annual report, and publish … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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3 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
There should be a Northern Ireland representative on the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, to ensure...
There should be a Northern Ireland representative on the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, to ensure the voice of Northern Ireland’s business community can feed into policy development and ensure that the Strategy appropriately supports economic growth in Northern Ireland. (Recommendation, … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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4 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
SMEs are the dominant business structure in Northern Ireland.
SMEs are the dominant business structure in Northern Ireland. If they are to innovate, take risks and build economic growth in NI, they need specific support, particularly in navigating dual market access to the EU and UK internal markets. Currently, … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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5 Recommendation
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The Government should establish a completely overarching one-stop shop for NI SMEs trading in goods...
The Government should establish a completely overarching one-stop shop for NI SMEs trading in goods and services. This facility should bring together support on accessing innovation funding, trading East-West, North-South and more widely in the EU, as well as wider … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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6 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
Intertrade UK has the potential to be a key source of advice and solutions for...
Intertrade UK has the potential to be a key source of advice and solutions for the UK Government, but its Board membership needs to be broader to ensure that the east-west trade challenges faced by GB-based businesses are considered. It … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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7 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The Secretary of State should appoint a GB representative to the Board of Intertrade UK.
The Secretary of State should appoint a GB representative to the Board of Intertrade UK. (Recommendation, Paragraph 40) Unlocking economic growth
Northern Ireland Office
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8 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
We have received no evidence to date that the Executive has a thought through or...
We have received no evidence to date that the Executive has a thought through or deliverable plan to address and reform the deficits in planning policy and processes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 55)
Northern Ireland Office
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9 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
City and Growth Deals have the potential to support not only sectoral growth, but growth...
City and Growth Deals have the potential to support not only sectoral growth, but growth and increased prosperity across the sub-regions of Northern Ireland. To that end, future deals might include local government to a greater extent. While current deals … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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10 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
Future City and Growth Deals should include greater powers for local government in Northern Ireland.
Future City and Growth Deals should include greater powers for local government in Northern Ireland. Deals should also include complementary funding strands on both skills and core infrastructure. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)
Northern Ireland Office
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11 Recommendation
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The ‘economic vision’ that the NIO is developing, including time-bound objectives as we recommend earlier...
The ‘economic vision’ that the NIO is developing, including time-bound objectives as we recommend earlier in this report, should clearly set out how the Government will address the structural weaknesses associated with the largely devolved but unignorable policy areas of … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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12 Conclusion
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
Tackling economic inactivity is one of the keys to economic growth.
Tackling economic inactivity is one of the keys to economic growth. In Northern Ireland, this has been carried out largely by the community and voluntary sector using revenue funding. Under the forthcoming Local Growth Fund, the proportion of revenue funding … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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13 Recommendation
4th Report – Economic growth in No…
The Government should urgently reverse the capital-revenue split of the new Local Growth Fund in...
The Government should urgently reverse the capital-revenue split of the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland. Failing this, the NIO should work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, HM Treasury and the NI Executive urgently to … Read more
Northern Ireland Office
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Correspondence 1 letter
4 Mar 2026 Correspondence from the Secretary of State relating to the reserve claim of £400m for the Northern Ireland Executive, dated 27 February 2026.
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