It was a great turnout on April 1st, at Windsor Park Stadium, for the launch of the 2025 Northern Ireland SME Access to Finance Report in collaboration with British Business Bank.
Business leaders, entrepreneurs, and finance professionals came together to explore the latest insights on SME finance in Northern Ireland.
The report provides valuable analysis of the current funding landscape, comparing Northern Ireland’s experiences with those of SMEs in Scotland and Wales. Discussions highlighted key challenges, emerging opportunities, and real-world experiences from businesses navigating finance options.
A special thanks to the speakers and panellists:
– Susan Nightingale, British Business Bank, for opening the event.
– Martina Tortis, British Business Bank, for presenting the key findings.
– Mark Johnston, Johnston Financial Solutions Limited, Emma Garrett, Mallusk Enterprise Park, and Dr Olivia Clark, Pluto Pets for their insightful panel discussion.
-Michael Mc Quillan, Enterprise NI, for closing the event with key takeaways.
A key message from today was the need to change perceptions around finance. As Emma Garrett put it, “shifting the mindset that finance is complicated to finance is accessible” is essential for supporting SME growth.
