Member's statement: Enterprise Support

Member's statement by Mr John Stewart on 30 June 2026.

MLA: Mr John Stewart
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 30 June 2026
Type: Member's statement
Business: Members' Statements
Heading: Enterprise Support
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5652717

Text

I declare an interest as the chair of the all-party group on micro and small business, but I feel that I must highlight an issue that should concern every Member, regardless of party or constituency. Northern Ireland has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how we support entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses from April 2027, but that window is rapidly closing. The UK Government have made it clear that responsibility for the local growth fund will transfer to Executive Departments from April 2027. That funding is fundamental to the future of the Go Succeed programme and our entire enterprise support system. Decisions taken over the next two months will determine whether Northern Ireland has a modern, responsive enterprise service or whether we simply roll forward a model that increasingly struggles to keep pace with the world around it. Technology is changing; artificial intelligence is transforming how businesses grow and start up; consumer behaviour is evolving; and business models are changing faster than ever before. Our enterprise support system risks standing still, and the evidence is sobering. Northern Ireland now has the lowest business start-up rate across the UK and Ireland, while our business survival rates continue to lag behind those of our neighbours. At a time when every business creates jobs, wealth, innovation and stronger communities, that should concern us all. I thank Enterprise Northern Ireland and note the outstanding work of our local enterprise agencies, which go above and beyond, often in challenging financial circumstances, for our entrepreneurs and businesses. Day in, day out and often with limited resources, they work at the coalface of enterprise, supporting people with an idea, helping new businesses survive those difficult first years and backing local entrepreneurs in every corner of our country. That experience is invaluable. Enterprise NI has produced a paper on the evidence base, which draws together research, international best practice, programme evaluation and decades of practical delivery experience. That paper deserves serious consideration. I understand that significant efforts have been made to bring the Department for the Economy, councils and Enterprise NI around a table to design collaboratively the modernised service for 2027, yet that meeting still has not happened. That is deeply disappointing. We now have a 12-week window in which meaningful engagement can take place. The clock is ticking, so we must ask what is preventing that collaboration. Is it a lack of urgency, a lack of trust or simply a lack of ambition? These are difficult and concerning times for our enterprise sector. I therefore urge the Minister for the Economy to act quickly and work with all stakeholders to ensure that collaboration is done properly in the coming weeks.

443 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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