55 Irish companies on business mission in London

Representatives from 55 Irish-based companies are on a business mission to London today and tomorrow, which represents Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s largest ever international business mission.

Companies travelling with the delegation include Arnotts, Hayes Solicitors, Mason Hayes & Curran, ESB, GAA, UCD, Dublin Airport Authority, PwC, City Jet, KPMG, PayPal and Fexco.

It will incorporate briefings from UK business leaders, site visits, and a networking reception at the House of Commons, hosted by Tourism Ireland.

The briefings are with Willie Walsh, chief executive of International Airlines Group, Paul Caplis of UK Trade & Investment, Bob Doyle of London Partners, Mark Gregory, chief economist for the UK and Ireland with Ernst & Young and Gavin McWhirter, Enterprise Ireland’s UK manager.

Gina Quin, Dublin Chamber chief executive said the level of interest in this business mission was “extremely encouraging”.

“It will provide them with the opportunity to engage with UK business leaders, seek new business opportunities and to network with their peers. Last year, a similar visit to Manchester resulted in one company establishing its UK office there, so these missions have a purpose.”

Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, said Great Britain accounted for over 50pc of all visitors to Ireland and the agency had a busy promotional programme under way this year to grow tourism business from the market.