Antrim and Newtownabbey has been named as one of the UK’s most promising places for business growth in 2026, according to new analysis released by Growth Flag, the UK data intelligence platform. This ranking also saw it identified as the strongest performing region in Northern Ireland with 12 per cent high growth potential.
This news comes after the region held an investment showcase event in Westminster in December where Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council launched its latest investment proposition branded ‘Antrim Newtownabbey: AN Investment that delivers.’ Through this strategy, the region has its sights firmly set on key growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, logistics and supply chain management, aerospace, and health and life sciences.
Recognising these strengths, Growth Flag’s analysis indicates that scaling businesses in the Borough already benefit from a resilient economic base, strong links to logistics and advanced manufacturing, unrivalled connectivity and a growing pipeline of firms investing in innovation and technology. The report concludes that these strengths position the area competitively to attract further private investment and create high-value employment opportunities in 2026 and beyond.
Commenting on the findings, Richard Jeffery, co-founder of Growth Flag, said: “Antrim and Newtownabbey’s performance demonstrates the strength of Northern Ireland’s business community and reinforces the region’s ability to compete for investment, innovation and talent. The Borough’s emergence in the UK top 10 shows what can be achieved when businesses, partners and local leadership align behind growth and ambition. With continued focus on supporting scaling firms and leveraging the right data, Northern Ireland can build on this momentum in the year ahead.”
Welcoming the report’s findings The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, said: “This news is very welcome and reflects what we have known for some time – that the investment proposition in Antrim Newtownabbey has never been more compelling. Coming so quickly after we launched our new investment proposition at a stakeholder event in Westminster in December is perfect timing and we are very excited about the investment prospects ahead. A new and exciting economic success story is developing in our region and to know that we are already in the top 10 locations in the UK for high-growth business potential is hugely encouraging. But our message to would be investors is that we aren’t stopping there and we in the Council stand ready to partner with you to seize opportunities and deliver even better results in the years ahead.”
The Growth Outlook 26 report, which assessed more than 4.3 million businesses across the UK, highlights a challenging national picture, with just nine per cent of firms forecast to grow by 20 per cent or more next year. This is down from 16 per cent of businesses in last year’s analysis. Meanwhile, the number of firms showing early distress signals has risen sharply. The report also found that growth is no longer evenly distributed across the UK, instead clustering in a small number of local economies with favourable combinations of skilled workforces, investment, infrastructure and business support – one of which is the Antrim Newtownabbey area.
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