Business Environment

Business Environment: An Entrepreneurial Spirit
A strong, natural work ethic drives the Northern Ireland economy and contributes to a sophisticated and stable business environment. In several areas the economy now out-performs the rest of the UK (and a number of other European countries), while growth in manufacturing employment and output remain consistently above the national level.
Business Environment: Investment and Infrastructure
In 1998, the government announced a major economic strategy for Northern Ireland. It comprises several elements: an employment skills fund, an enterprise fund and an investment fund, parts of which are allocated to innovation and tourism.

Northern Ireland has a fully digital telecoms infrastructure with three fibre-optic networks offering rapid connection, very competitive pricing and high grade technical support.

In fact, Northern Ireland is one of the most densely fibred countries in Europe with enough fibre to circle the globe ten times or from New York to Los Angeles sixty times. All the major transmission technologies are available from broadband through DWDM on a hyperfast backbone at costs considered to be amongst the most reasonable in Europe. Greater fibre density means greater network resilience, allowing instant traffic re-routing and safety features as standard which other countries (where available) often charge as additional costs. Network efficiencies give greater data capabilities to both city and rural environments. With on-going annual network investments topping £52M the strength of the telecommunications network has been a fundamental factor for the host of IT, Biotechnology, Contact Centre and Financial Services companies who have chosen to locate in Northern Ireland.

Belfast International Airport operates a direct service to some 40 major UK and European destinations, with onward connections worldwide. Belfast City Airport also provides a comprehensive daily UK service, while in the North West, City of Derry Airport delivers a wide choice of direct and connecting flights.

Business Environment: Stockmarket
London is the world's leading international equity market. At present it has over 460 foreign company listings - more than any other exchange. The Exchange's main aim is to provide an environment in which both the domestic and international markets can flourish.
Its prime activities are
organising and regulating both the UK and international securities markets
listing - providing access to a world-class market in which shares can be traded and funds raised to support business growth
providing settlement facilities for transactions in UK and Irish equities.

Business Environment: Intellectual Property (patents and trademarks)
A product is often protected by all or many types of intellectual property rights simultaneously. Patents can protect new products, new manufacturing processes or new materials. Trade marks of brand names of products or services can be registered at the Trade Marks Registry.
Note: patents and trade marks can be extended throughout Europe