A new report from Confluence Consulting, The Business of Government, sends a message from Northern Ireland’s business community about policy uncertainty, weak delivery and infrastructure constraints are now directly shaping commercial decisions.

Based on the views of 106 business leaders across Northern Ireland, the report should be read carefully by policymakers, public bodies and anyone interested in investment, competitiveness and regional growth.

The central point is straightforward. Businesses are not asking government for more slogans. They are asking for stability, delivery and a better understanding of commercial reality.

One of the clearest findings is that firms value predictability. Some 77% of leaders said greater policy stability was either critical or very important to their future plans in Northern Ireland. Delivery and stability were ranked above speed and ambition as the qualities businesses most want from government.

That distinction matters. Business does not oppose ambition, but ambition without implementation creates frustration. Announcements that are not followed through increase uncertainty. Strategies that are not delivered weaken confidence. Programmes that are difficult to navigate absorb time and resource that firms would rather spend on investment, recruitment and growth.

The report found that 58% of firms had delayed investment in the past year because of political or policy uncertainty. More than one in four had redirected investment outside Northern Ireland, while 42% had delayed hiring and 37% had reduced hiring expectations.

The delivery gap is also stark. Only 1% of business leaders rated the follow-up from policy announcements to real-world delivery as strong, while 70% said there is no clear long-term policy direction at Stormont.

For the North West, this will feel familiar. Whether the issue is wastewater capacity, planning, transport, energy, university growth or skills, the concern is often the same: the problem is known, the economic case is understood, but delivery takes too long.

The report also highlights a serious gap between public-sector decision-making and business reality. Nine in ten respondents rated the public sector’s understanding of commercial realities as weak. That should concern anyone involved in regulation, procurement, funding schemes or infrastructure delivery.

Infrastructure is no longer a side issue. Confluence found that 60% of respondents had experienced local planning or infrastructure delays, while 39% said wastewater capacity had adversely affected their business.

If Northern Ireland wants stronger investment, higher productivity and better regional balance, government must provide the stability, delivery and infrastructure that businesses need to grow.

You can read the full report here.