Irish companies secure multiple North West deals as part of trade mission

Enterprise Ireland trade mission

Four Enterprise Ireland companies today announced significant new contract wins with UK partners and expansion in the UK market, as part of Enterprise Ireland’s trade mission to the UK this week.

Led by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, the two-day trade mission to Manchester aimed to support Irish companies to consolidate and sustain exports to the UK.

Witnessing the client contract signings during the Enterprise Ireland trade mission to Manchester, Ms Humphreys said: “Trade missions play a critical role in promoting the capabilities of Irish companies internationally.

“Ireland’s long-standing trading relationship with the UK is important and the trade mission to Manchester this week is focused on supporting Irish companies to consolidate and grow their exports to the UK.

“I welcome today’s new business and expansion announcements which reflect the continued and growing opportunities for Irish businesses throughout the UK and particularly in the Northern Powerhouse region.”

She added: “Throughout the mission, we are engaging with senior officials and decision makers to further strengthen ties between Ireland and the region.”

TTM Healthcare, a leading global healthcare recruitment company headquartered in Ireland, has announced the opening of a new office in Manchester. Its expansion demonstrates TTM Healthcare’s success in scaling exports across the UK.

The new office forms part of a three-year multi-million-euro capital investment by TTM Healthcare to deliver on its ambition to become the largest provider of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals to UK hospitals and healthcare facilities.

The opening marks the latest phase in the continued expansion of TTM Healthcare, which already has an office in London that currently manages the placement of one-in-five nurses recruited to the NHS from overseas.

Managing director Paula McDonnell said: “Opening a new Manchester office marks the latest expansion of our international business adding to our existing presence in London and other markets such as Northern Ireland and the Middle East.

“By having a presence in Manchester it will support the delivery of ambitious plans to be a best in class provider of staffing, complex care and disability solutions to organizations and service users right across Europe.”

In addition, an Enterprise Ireland company within the healthcare space that is rapidly growing in the UK is One Touch Health.

The company, which designs and delivers connected healthcare solutions for care management companies, has announced a deal with UK-based Local Solutions, the largest single independent homecare provider in the Merseyside region.

Finin O’Connor, UK business development manager at One Touch Health, said “In the last six months we have achieved a 200% growth rate in the UK alone and this contract with Local Solutions is an example of how there is tremendous opportunity in the North for us to expand our network and support.”

Award-winning B2B ecommerce and mobile ordering platform for wholesalers, Aphix Software announced its partnership with the Sage Group.

Joe O’ Reilly, business development manager of Aphix Software, said: “The Northern Powerhouse initiative is an ideal opportunity for Sage and Aphix to launch our partnership given the number of wholesale and distribution companies in the region – all of whom could benefit from our eCommerce cloud platform.”

Irish-based technology company CitySwifter also announced a partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester, Cisco and BT as part of the wider CityVerve initiative to build and deliver a smarter, more connected Manchester.

Through a combination of this partnership and CitySwifter’s business intelligence platform focused on optimising how modern urban bus networks are operated, Greater Manchester will be on its way in achieving better public transport – a key component of the wider Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Alan Farrelly, chief operating officer and co-founder of CitySwifter, said: “Today’s announcement is a key step in our ongoing UK expansion.

“Over the next 12 months, we plan to roll-out our technology solution across multiple major cities in the Northern Powerhouse region, giving transport authorities and operators the tools to deliver optimal public transport connectivity for passengers.”

Commenting on the expansion of Irish businesses in the UK, Marina Donohoe, Enterprise Ireland Director of the UK and Northern Europe, said: “Success of Irish construction companies in Manchester and across the UK is well known and similarly Irish healthcare companies are delivering impact in terms of improved outcomes for the UK health sector.

“The significance of the deals announced today by the Irish digital technology companies One Touch Health, City Swifter and Aphix Software demonstrate that the UK offers considerable opportunities for a new wave of companies starting their export journey.”

Forty five Enterprise Ireland clients participatd in the two-day trade mission with engaged with senior officials and decision makers, including City Region Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

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