Business leaders and enterprise stakeholders have warned that Northern Ireland faces a critical 8-12-week window to secure a coordinated, future-proofed enterprise support system capable of meeting the challenges of rapid global economic change.
Speaking following engagement with the All-Party Group on Micro and Small Business, Enterprise NI, the organisation representing Northern Ireland’s 26 Local Enterprise Agencies (LEAs), said that immediate collaborative action is required to modernise how entrepreneurship and business support is delivered from April 2027 onwards.
Stakeholders highlighted growing concern that there is currently no certainty around the future funding and structure of the Northern Ireland Enterprise Support Service beyond March 2027. At the same time, governments and economies internationally are rapidly redesigning enterprise systems around artificial intelligence, digital connectivity, hybrid delivery and new business models.
Enterprise leaders warned that if Northern Ireland fails to act decisively now, the region risks falling significantly further behind competitor economies, with potentially irrecoverable long-term consequences for economic growth, productivity, entrepreneurship, and local communities.
It is proposed that future-proofing enterprise support services will require a combination of experienced business adviser support alongside advanced digital and AI-enabled systems. Together, these capabilities can create a more responsive, personalised and efficient enterprise support ecosystem for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and growing businesses.
The next 8-12 weeks are considered particularly significant, with key stakeholders across local government, central government, and the wider enterprise support sector already working to shape future approaches and priorities.
Enterprise NI is calling for a coordinated, time-bound co-design process over the next 8-12 weeks to support this work. This process should ensure that stakeholders collaborate effectively in response to the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, emerging technologies, and the need to support modern business models. The aim is to develop a single, modern and regionally aligned enterprise support system for Northern Ireland that is capable of delivering stronger outcomes for start-ups, businesses and communities.
Discussions also referenced the forthcoming SME Entrepreneurship Action Plan, which has been developed through a six-month co-design process involving a broad range of enterprise stakeholders. Participants welcomed the collaborative approach led by the Minister for the Economy and supported by Department for the Economy officials and expressed hope that the plan will be published in the near future.
John Stewart MLA, Chair of the All-Party Group on Micro and Small Business, said:
“Northern Ireland now has a very short but hugely important opportunity to get enterprise support right for the next generation. If government, councils and enterprise stakeholders fail to coordinate over the coming weeks, we risk locking ourselves into outdated structures at precisely the time other economies are accelerating ahead through AI, digital innovation, and modern business support models. The consequences for our economy, our entrepreneurs and our local communities could be profound.”
John McGrillen, Chair, Enterprise NI, said:
“This is about creating a modern enterprise support system that is fit for the future, delivers real value for money, and genuinely improves outcomes for entrepreneurs and small businesses across every part of Northern Ireland. There is broad agreement that the current system must evolve, and we now need leadership and coordination to make that happen quickly and effectively.”
Michael McQuillan, Chief Executive, Enterprise NI, said:
“The next 8-12 weeks are critical. Key decisions are already beginning to take shape across local government, the Executive and the UK Government. Without an urgent collaborative co-design process, there is a real danger of fragmentation, duplication, and missed opportunity. Northern Ireland cannot afford to fall further behind at a time of such significant global economic and technological change.”
Debbie Rymer, Experienced Business Advisor, Enterprise Causeway, said:
“There is a growing disconnect between the design of the current start-up support system and the evolving needs of local start-ups in an entrepreneurial landscape that is changing more rapidly than at any point in my 15 years of experience in business advice and consultancy. A focused and coordinated approach is now needed to develop a fit-for-the-future, AI-enabled Enterprise Support Service.”
