First Ministers praise Northern Ireland businesses' resilience at Top 100 Companies launch

Belfast Telegraph

13-05-2025

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were addressing a breakfast event launch the publication and mark its 30th anniversary.
This year's list includes businesses which collectively employ around 10% of the private workforce in Northern Ireland, and together generated over £2bn of revenue.
The joint heads of the NI Executive attended the event at the Titanic Hotel in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill opened by describing the task of growing the economy as a 'partnership' between government and the private sector.
'This is about how we can work with you, how we can take all the challenges that we have and create the opportunities that we want to see for every single person who lives here.'
She paid tribute to the resilience of businesses here in an 'economic landscape' that includes inflation, trade wars and changing regulations.
'We're going to keep having to navigate our way through that.
'Quite frankly, you'll wake up one day and you don't know what you're going to read with a Twitter post that morning announcing a new trade deal or new tariffs.
'It is very clear that all we can do is deal with what we know, deal with the implications of these things and try to work our way through that.'
Emma Little Pengelly said that, despite our tendency to talk ourselves down, the Northern Irish economy has a lot to offer the world.
That was evidenced by sporting events such as the North West 200 and creative awards such as the Bafta best drama win for Blue Lights, which is filmed in Belfast.
'Our creative industries have become a global success story, showcasing Northern Ireland as a hub for film, TV and digital content.
'When we look over just the last number of weeks, our North West 200 at the weekend, Rory McIlroy's success, Blue Light's success at the Baftas: these are all shining a light on the positive developments in this place that we call home.'
The enormous changes in the NI economy during the 30 years of the Top 100 were discussed by Maureen O'Reilly, the independent economist who has compiled the list since taking over from the late John Simpson in 2023.
'In 1996 the unemployment rate was 11% in Northern Ireland, its now 1.5%. Public sector jobs were about 37% of all jobs, and that's down to about 27% now...
'Inflation has cooled to 2.5%: it's hard to remember it was four times higher than that in 2022, just four years ago.'
Ms O'Reilly raised some areas of difficulty for the economy here, such as the ongoing issue of low productivity in the private sector, and the uncertainty caused by the US's approach to tariffs and free trade.
Reflecting on the list, she explained how the profit threshold to enter the Top 100 had gone up from £6.2m to £7.6m, and that 39 new entrants came into the list, with 39 exits.
Richard Gillan, managing partner of Grant Thornton Northern Ireland, said: 'Tuesday's launch of the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 was a celebration of the ambition and innovation that defines Northern Ireland's business community.
"It was fantastic to come together with so many of our region's most influential leaders and organisations to recognise the outstanding contribution they make, not just to the economy, but to society as a whole.
'At Grant Thornton, we believe in creating opportunities to celebrate business success. Events such as these not only acknowledge achievement, but also strengthen connections, spark new ideas and reaffirm the importance of collaboration in driving sustainable growth.
'We are delighted to once again partner with the Belfast Telegraph, and we look forward to continuing to support the organisations who are helping to shape a more prosperous Northern Ireland.'