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Identifying markets and competitors through research

Market research is critical to export success. We can help identify the best markets for your business, identify competitors, and find reliable export partners, saving time and money by providing in-depth information and guidance on how to break into new markets.

You can also check your business’s export readiness with our free Export Health Check.

Business Information Centre

Our Business Information Centre, at Invest NI's headquarters in Belfast, has extensive market research and access to worldwide company directories, information on trade fairs, import/export procedures, funding sources, and legal agreements.

Market Research Databases

Database

Subject

Location

AMA

Building & construction reports including environmental.

UK

Cobra

Business information for start-up companies, including market and legal information.

UK

Construction Info Services

Construction project tracking.

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

Euromonitor

Provides data & insights on industries, economies, and consumers worldwide.

Worldwide

Frost & Sullivan

Industrial, energy, healthcare, and ICT sectors.

Worldwide

IBIS World

UK, Ireland & US industry research reports.

UK, US and Ireland

IGD

Strategies and operations of consumer goods retailers around the world.

Worldwide

Mintel

Food and drink, retail, e-commerce, leisure, lifestyles, technology, and consumer.

UK & Ireland

Mintel Insights & Global New Products database (GNPD)

Global product innovation tool providing information on competitor activity, category awareness and idea generation.

Global

Plimsoll

Market reports and analysis across all sectors.

UK

Statista

Statistics portal covering 170 industries.

Worldwide

Company Information Databases

Database

Geographic Coverage

Number of Companies

Kompass

Worldwide – Detailed product information, which is most useful for manufacturing/engineering companies.

Over 8 million

Orbis

Worldwide – Detailed financial information. 

Over 19 million

Tenders Alert Service

The Tenders Alert Service provides daily email alerts on contract opportunities from public sector organizations in the UK and Europe.
Government bodies purchase billions of pounds of goods and services annually. The sources below can alert you to tender opportunities.

Northern Ireland

Source

Description

Invest Northern Ireland Tenders Alert Service

Invest Northern Ireland's Tenders Alert Service provides businesses with daily email alerts on local, UK, ROI, European, and Global contract opportunities from various public sector organisations.

Construction Procurement Delivery (CPD)

CPD, Northern Ireland's government body, publishes most local and regional government tenders on this website. Contact details for specific areas can be found here.

eTendersNI

The portal promotes opportunities for providing goods, services, and works to Northern Ireland government departments, agencies, and arms-length bodies.

eSourcing NI

eSourcing NI is an electronic tendering platform that enables supplying organisations in Northern Ireland to participate in tender opportunities, through which all procurement is channelled.

InterTradeIreland Go-2-Tender

InterTradeIreland's Go-2-Tender programme assists SMEs in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland in bidding for and servicing public sector contracts, offering sector-specific support and workshops to enhance their skills.

Republic of Ireland

Source

Description

Office of Government Procurement (OGP)

The OGP is responsible for procuring goods and services for the Public Service in Ireland, including Health, Defence, Education, and Local Government, and has full responsibility for procurement policy and procedures.

eTenders Procurement

e-Tenders is the Irish Government's electronic tendering platform, used by public sector contracting authorities to advertise contract and award notices, procurement news, guidance, legislation, and circulars.

Great Britain

Source

Description

Scotland

This portal provides contract information for Scottish Local Authorities, NHS Scotland, Scottish Government, agencies, NDPBs, Higher and Further Education, and Emergency Services, with the option to register for free email alerts.

Wales

This is the public sector procurement portal for Welsh suppliers and buyers.

Find a Tender

Find a Tender has replaced the EU’s Tenders Electronic Daily from 1 January 2021 for high value contracts in the UK.

Contracts Finder

This provides information on contracts worth over £10,000 with the UK government and its agencies.

Network Rail

This provides contracts in pipeline work and Thames Link project work.

CompeteFor

This site advertises major tenders for Crossrail, the Metropolitan Police and London Boroughs. It is provided by BIP Solutions on behalf of the Mayor of London and Transport for London.

Ministry of Defence (MOD)

This portal provides access to MOD defence contracts.

Constructionline

This is a register of local and national pre-qualified construction and construction related services.

The GOV.UK website has more links to UK tender sites. Contact us to get a more comprehensive document of UK tendering sources.

Europe

Source

Description

Tenders Electronic Daily (TED)

The EU's online public procurement journal offers free access to business opportunities, updated weekly, and allows users to create search profiles for daily email alerts.

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