PRESS RELEASE : Security and growth at the centre of the UK-Ireland Summit [March 2025]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 March 2025.

National security, growth and energy security will be top of the agenda at the first annual UK-Ireland Summit tomorrow as the Prime Minister underscores the importance of delivering for the people of the UK.

National security, growth and energy security will be top of the agenda at the first annual UK-Ireland Summit tomorrow as the Prime Minister underscores the importance of delivering for the people of the UK.

The meeting comes after the Prime Minister hosted 18 leaders in London on Sunday where he reiterated the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine and European security.    As part of that commitment, tomorrow the two leaders will announce closer collaboration on energy security to harness the full potential of the Irish and Celtic seas.

Through a new data sharing arrangement, the UK and Irish governments will lay the groundwork for commercial developers to increase offshore energy by cutting red tape and minimising the burden of maritime and environmental consent processes for developers.

This will speed up developments and mobilise investments in offshore energy infrastructure.

This new collaboration will increase renewable energy production and enhance the UK’s energy security, delivering on this Government’s Plan for Change.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Energy security and national security are two sides of the same coin, that is why we must work with our allies and partners across the world to protect the hardworking British people from external factors driving up household bills.

As our closest neighbour our partnership with Ireland is testament to the importance of working with international partners to deliver for people at home.

Now more than ever we must work with likeminded partners in the pursuit of global peace, prosperity and security.

Tomorrow, the Prime Minister and Taoiseach will host a joint business roundtable with industry leaders and businesses across tech, finance, clean energy, manufacturing and construction from the UK and Ireland. The discussion will focus on potential opportunities for growth and investment, and how the UK and Ireland can work together to build an even more resilient and successful trading relationship.   They will also discuss how both countries can work closer together on renewable energy, tech, AI and security.

As part of tomorrow’s summit, the UK has welcomed new Irish investments worth £185.5 million creating 2,540 jobs across the country from Version 1, Applegreen, Omniplex, Galvia, Buymedia, Uniquely, Walsh Mushrooms and PM Group. From Evesham to Edinburgh, new investments show confidence in the UK as an attractive place to invest and delivers on the government’s Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.

The UK will also announce that W.H. Davis, part of Buckland Group, has won a £100 million contract with Irish Rail supporting their investment in railway infrastructure in Ireland.

Ireland is the UK’s 6th largest trading partner with the trading relationship worth nearly £80 billion last year across sectors including renewable energy, life sciences, creative industries and tech.

Tomorrow’s events follow a cultural reception hosted by the Prime Minister and Taoiseach this evening, with representatives from both the UK and Ireland showcasing the world-class talent on both sides of the Irish sea.

After the summit, the Prime Minister will travel to a defence company to meet employees and apprentices working in the national security sector.

Visit comes after the Prime Minister’s landmark announcement made last week on increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027.

In 2023-24, defence spending supported over 430,000 jobs across the UK, the equivalent to one in every 60, with 16,900 in the North West.

Additional information

• Version 1, a Dublin-based, digital transformation leader plans to invest around £40m in the UK in the next few years, through technology hubs across London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester andEdinburgh and the addition of 1000 AI-related roles.
• Applegreen owners of Welcome Break – Motorway service area along the A46 in Hickling, Nottinghamshire – £15 million development. The project has generated over 175 construction jobs andis set to create over 150 long-term jobs for the local community upon opening. Commitment of further UK investments exceeding £85 million over the next 24 months. These planned investments are anticipated to create around 900 jobs for local communities.
• Omniplex – Following its initial 2023 announcement to invest £22.5million and acquire 5 UK cinemas in Birmingham, Clydebank, High Wycombe, Sutton and Ipswich, also acquired 2 further sites in Sunderland and Wigan and is now planning to upgrade all 7 of its cinemas. The combined additional investments will total £13.5million over the next 3 years bringing the total amount to £36million.
• Galvia an enterprise AI platform that drives business growth – Opening an office in Manchester at Manchester’s new £1.7bn science and technology innovation district. The company will invest £500,000 and employ 10 staff over the next 3 years.
• Buymedia, An AI-powered advertising specialist, is opening an office in Manchester at Manchester’s new £1.7bn science and technology innovation district. The company will invest 1.5 million and employ 30 staff over the next 3 years.
• Uniquely, an Irish sales and customer services outsource solutions provider is opening offices in Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow. The company is investing £20 million and will employ 300 staff by the end of 2025.
• Walsh Mushrooms Group, one of the largest suppliers of fresh mushrooms in Ireland and the UK, is undertaking a significant 5-year investment into a new ultra-modern Mushroom growing facility close to its Evesham distribution centre. The project will introduce world-leading, cutting-edge robotic technology with the first phase commencing next month and involving an investment of £10million.
• PM Group, a project delivery specialist headquartered in Ireland, with offices in the UK would like to announce it is expanding its UK business, creating 150 jobs across the UK. The company is a world leader in project delivery in Life Sciences, Data Centres and Industrial Process. Clients include AstraZeneca, GSK, MSD and leading hyperscale data centre companies.
• W.H. Davis, part of Buckland Rail Group, have won a contract with Irish Rail to provide up to 400 freight wagons over a 10-year term, with a potential value of up to €120m/c. £100m.