The CEO and Chair of Enterprise NI are calling on all micro and small business owners in the Belfast area to help influence the future of their businesses by completing the NI Enterprise Barometer 2025 survey.
Conducted by Enterprise NI, the Barometer is open until the 30th of October and is the largest annual survey of micro and small businesses in Northern Ireland. Supported by the British Business Bank, the Barometer enables Enterprise NI to capture vital data about the challenges and opportunities faced by micro and small business owners.
Now in its seventh year, the survey takes less than fifteen minutes to complete and can be found online at enterpriseni.com. Every respondent will be entered into a draw to win a £250 voucher for Elephant Rock Hotel. The 2025 Barometer’s findings will be announced at The Europa Hotel on 4 December 2025.
Jonathan McAlpin, CEO of East Belfast Enterprise and Chair of Enterprise NI, said:
"With increasing pressures on public services and associated budgets, a strong economy has never been more important to drive greater prosperity for all in Northern Ireland. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we need to hear from them and listen to them, so that we can shape policy and create interventions that will make a difference and enable these businesses to do what they do best – innovate, grow, create jobs and deliver services. The ENI Barometer is an essential tool to gather the thoughts and opinions of our small businesses, so please engage with this critical research and encourage all of our small businesses to take the opportunity to have their voice heard."
Michael McQuillan, CEO of Enterprise NI, is also urging business owners to complete the 2025 Barometer:
“The findings of the NI Enterprise Barometer provide the strongest, most unified voice for micro and small businesses in Northern Ireland.” Every survey completed strengthens Enterprise NI’s ability to drive home the need for adequate funding for micro and small businesses and to directly influence the development of tailored strategies and support services that address their specific needs.
“Self-employed, micro, and small businesses collectively form the biggest part of our economy. That’s why, along with our sponsors, the British Business Bank, I am urging every single entrepreneur, self-employed start-up, and micro and small business owner across Northern Ireland to grab themselves a cup of coffee, complete this survey and ensure their views, needs and concerns are heard.”
Findings from this year’s survey will be used to inform the shape of the Department for the Economy’s emergent entrepreneurship strategy for Northern Ireland.
Also encouraging small business owners to get involved in completing this year’s survey, Barometer Economist, Maureen O’Reilly, said:
“Now, more than ever, the concerns of small and micro business owners in Northern Ireland must be heard, particularly in relation to the dangerous mix of challenges that include the significant escalation in costs and managing cashflow, trying to get and keep staff and the lack of an Executive here making and taking decisions to help.”
“By completing the NI Enterprise Barometer, business owners will be providing us with strong and insightful data that enables Enterprise NI, and our network of 27 Local Enterprise Agencies, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities they face, and the agility to deliver the on the ground supports they need.”
Further details on the survey, along with the findings from last year’s Barometer, can be found online at enterpriseni.com
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
Subscribe to the Sync NI newsletter for all the latest technology news, jobs and upcoming events in Northern Ireland.
Visit Sync NI online for the latest technology news in Northern Ireland.
