Unpacked: Beyond the Bank - Private Equity and the Resilience of Northern Ireland’s Economy

About this episode

This episode explores the resilience of Northern Ireland's economy and the role of private equity in driving local market dynamism.

Is the Northern Irish economy more resilient than the statistics suggest? In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey sit down with Andrew Dolliver, Partner in Restructuring and M&A at EY, to uncover the surprising dynamism within the local market. Despite global "black swan" events like Brexit and COVID-19, Northern Ireland has emerged as a hotspot for mergers, acquisitions, and private equity investment. Dolliver explains the shift from formal liquidations to creative, informal restructuring and how "war chests" of local wealth are fueling new opportunities. Discover why international funds are eyeing NI firms and the four essential pillars entrepreneurs need, including a strong management team and a clear growth story, to become truly "investable". Whether you are curious about the changing role of traditional banking or the rapid impact of AI on tech valuations, this episode offers an expert vantage point on the capital driving Northern Ireland’s future. Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jim Fitzpatrick, Richard Ramsey

Guest: Andrew Dolliver

Topics covered

• private equity
• Northern Ireland economy
• mergers and acquisitions
• entrepreneurship
• restructuring
• investment opportunities

Keywords

• Northern Ireland
• private equity
• mergers
• acquisitions
• restructuring
• investment
• entrepreneurship
• AI impact
• banking

Sponsors

EY

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Queen’s Business School, Queen’s Univ

Places: Northern Ireland

More episodes of Trading Up

• Unpacked: Northern Ireland’s Population Peak and The Impact of Decline · June 10, 2026 · 43 min
• Bravery and Kindness and The Modern Business of Law · June 3, 2026 · 51 min
• From Communist heritage to Capitalist Tsar to becoming Putin’s Enemy Number One: The Bill Browder Story · May 20, 2026 · 44 min
• Bootstrapping Oatco to £1M, Surviving Dragon's Den, & Making Forbes 30 Under 30 with Laura Murphy · May 13, 2026 · 43 min
• The Democratic Regression: The Rise of Autocracy and Its Threat to Free Markets · May 6, 2026 · 41 min
• Future-Proofing Your Business: Sustainability, Resilience, and EY's Four Futures · April 29, 2026 · 41 min