Did Poles win on Brexit? Polish companies are growing in strength on the UK

At the very beginning, it is worth noting that the success of Polish companies in Great Britain after Brexit does not mean that leaving the European Union would be good for Poland. This is not praise for Polexit or an argument for leaving the EU. Polish companies were able to take advantage of the specific market situation that emerged after Great Britain left the EU, because the British market has changed in many places after Brexit.

Some companies limited their activity there, new gaps and new needs appeared. Polish enterprises were able to notice this and entered there with offers, investments and new jobs. This, however, does not mean that Brexit itself was a win-win solution or that a similar path would make sense for Poland.

The UK continues to attract investors

Despite the political and economic problems related to Brexit, Great Britain is still one of the most important destinations for foreign investors in the world. The report shows that by the end of 2024, the total value of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK will be USD 3.3 trillion. This is over 6% of all global FDI. Calculated per capita, this gives approximately 47,000. USD. Thanks to this, Great Britain is a leader among the world’s largest economies.

Importantly, unlike other large Western European countries, the UK’s importance as a global investment destination continues to grow. Since 2016, the UK’s share of global FDI inflows has increased by 1.3 percentage points. At the same time, the largest economies of the European Union recorded a decline. This shows that the British market is still strong and attractive.

The report lists the top ten reasons why the UK remains a “European investment magnet”. These include: innovation, strong specialist centers, tax breaks for innovators, intellectual property protection, state support for business, investment zones, good infrastructure, efficient transport, competitive tax system and tax reliefs and incentives for SMEs.

Additionally, the British government is implementing a ten-year development program “UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy”. It focuses on eight important sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defense, digital and technology, financial services, life sciences, creative industries and professional services.

Poland is a leader in investments from Central and Eastern Europe

For companies from Central and Eastern Europe, and especially from Poland, Brexit turned out to be a breakthrough moment. Robert Dobrzycki, president of Panattoni Europe, recalls in the report: “At that time, there was a lack of willingness to invest, so the ease of doing business increased due to less competition. For us, it was the perfect moment – an open door through which we entered.”

In the years 2020-2025, as many as half of all investment projects from Central and Eastern Europe in Great Britain came from Poland. Moreover, Polish companies were responsible for 68% of new jobs created by investors from this region. Since 2019, Polish companies have completed 132 projects on the British market, creating almost 9.6 thousand jobs. places.

The total value of Polish investments in Great Britain reached a record level of PLN 10.5 billion at the end of 2024. This is 6.4% of the entire Polish FDI portfolio in the world. Since 2019, the value of these assets has increased by approximately PLN 6 billion. Today, Great Britain is the third most important destination for Polish FDI, after Luxembourg and the Czech Republic.

Poland was also among the top twenty foreign investors in Great Britain. When it comes to the number of new jobs created by foreign investors, it took 11th place and accounted for 2.3% of their total number.

Where are Polish companies successful?

Polish companies invest in Great Britain in various industries, but they are particularly strong in modern services and technologies. A quarter of all projects come from the IT and digital services sector. – Polish services are really valued in Great Britain: from plumber to programmer – notes Konrad Weiske, president of Spyrosoft.

The second important area is infrastructure, transport and environmental protection. This sector is responsible for approximately 15% of the projects of companies from the region, but at the same time it provides almost half of all new jobs created by these investors.

The third area is medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology technologies. They are responsible for less than 10% of projects. Polish investments are also developing in business services, creative industries, fintech and industrial processing.

The largest Polish investors in Great Britain include companies such as InPost, Press Glass, Tele-Fonika Kable, Wielton, Polcom and LPP. Rafał Brzoska, CEO of InPost, emphasizes: “Great Britain is one of the largest and most mature e-commerce markets in Europe, and at the same time a market where consumers are very willing to use modern forms of delivery away from home.”

The British market offers opportunities, but it also has its rules

Although the prospects are good, entering the British market is not easy. Polish companies must prepare for specific requirements. Grzegorz Wrzosek, country manager of UK Promedica24, notes that “the high level of regulation of the British market was both a challenge and an advantage.”

The style of doing business is also important. – The British are masters of diplomacy and conflict avoidance. They rarely express negative opinions directly, and if they feel offended, they usually do not return to the topic. They prefer polite, factual conversations, and prefer to resolve any disputes through specialists or courts. Their positive opinions do not always mean full acceptance – they are often simply an expression of courtesy – says PAIH in the report.

Wiktor Warchałowski, CEO of Airly, advises that “in matters of communication with partners or contractors, let alone negotiations, be prepared for a slightly different approach than the ‘Polish’ one.”

Paweł Dziekoński, vice-president of Fakro, draws attention to the role of “small talk”, especially conversations about football, in building relationships. In turn, Robert Dobrzycki from Panattoni Europe emphasizes that “you need to employ strong, British management that is well perceived locally.”

Manufacturing companies also need to have a good understanding of local logistics. As Paweł Dziekoński says, you need to have a “good understanding of local logistics” because “the market has very high expectations when it comes to on-time delivery and certainty.”

Companies can count on support

Polish companies wishing to enter the UK can count on help from both British and Polish institutions. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) offers free and confidential support to foreign investors. As we read in the report: “Over the last 8 years, the British Embassy in Warsaw has supported over 200 companies in locating or developing their business in the UK.”

Polish institutions such as BGK, KUKE and PAIH also help. BGK is the only bank from Poland that is accredited by UKEF (UK Export Finance), thanks to which it can grant investment loans to entrepreneurs registered in Great Britain. KUKE offers foreign direct investment insurance, securing the repayment of loans. PAIH supports companies at every stage of entering foreign markets, provides market knowledge and helps in establishing contacts.

Brexit did not close the market, it only opened new opportunities

Data from the report clearly show that Brexit, although a cause for concern for many, has become an opportunity for Polish and Central European companies. Great Britain, thanks to its strong economy, clear rules of operation and institutional support, remains an attractive development direction.

Polish companies are making good use of this opportunity. They are investing more and more boldly, creating jobs and building their position on the British market. However, to be successful, they must understand local realities, including the style of doing business, and be able to use available support.

As the report summarizes: “Great Britain is no longer just an export destination, but is increasingly becoming a natural investment direction for Polish companies.”