Ahead of her keynote speech at the Dargan Forum, Bank of Ireland’s head of Corporate and SME Banking June Butler discusses how Ireland’s business landscape can thrive in the years ahead.
Taking place on 24 and 25 June in Dun Laoghaire, the annual Dargan Forum will bring together national and international experts to tackle Ireland’s most pressing challenges related to climate action, technological change, and economic uncertainty.
Among the speakers at this year’s forum is Bank of Ireland’s head of Corporate and SME Banking June Butler.
“If we want balanced, sustainable growth, businesses need the tools to succeed wherever they are based”
Butler returned to Bank of Ireland this year after a number of years as CEO of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and today leads a team of 200 colleagues supporting more than 3,000 businesses across Ireland.
Looking at this year’s Dargan Forum themes of sustainability, resilience and prosperity we asked Butler for her views on the road ahead.
What’s the biggest barrier stopping sustainability strategies delivering real economic results, and how do we fix it?
The biggest barrier is not a lack of ambition – it’s that many businesses, especially SMEs, struggle to turn plans into action. Most businesses understand why sustainability matters. But many don’t have a clear plan, and even when they do, they are unsure about the cost, the return, or where to start. In Ireland, only about a third of SMEs actually have a structured sustainability plan in place.
At the same time, businesses are dealing with rising costs and pressure on margins. So sustainability decisions often get pushed back, even when they would deliver savings in the long run.
How we fix it is quite simple in principle: we make it easier to act. First, we need to make investment easier and more accessible. Businesses need straightforward funding that works for them. At Bank of Ireland, we’ve focused on this through things like our Green Business Loans, which help businesses invest in energy efficiency or renewable technology while also reducing their costs.
Second, we need to make the journey clearer. A lot of SMEs don’t need more strategy – they need practical steps. That is why tools like our Sustainable Business Coach are important. They help businesses understand where they are today and what to do next.
Finally, we need to connect sustainability with growth. When businesses see that going green can improve productivity, lower costs and win new customers, it moves from being a “nice to have” to a core business decision.
Are we thinking too defensively about resilience – and what would a more proactive, opportunity-led approach look like for Ireland?
I do think we’ve been thinking about resilience in a slightly limited way. Too often, resilience is framed as protecting ourselves against risk – supply chain disruption, economic shocks, and so on. That matters, but it’s only part of the picture. A more useful way to think about resilience is this: how do we put Ireland in a position to benefit from change, not just absorb it?
We already have strong foundations – in digital capability, in our ability to attract investment, and in the strength of our SME base. But to build on that, we need to focus on a few key things.
We need to invest in infrastructure that is fit for the future, especially digital connectivity and energy. These are not just supports anymore – they are central to how the economy grows. We also need to support our regions to grow, not just our main urban centres. If we want balanced, sustainable growth, businesses need the tools to succeed wherever they are based. And importantly, we need to turn innovation into something practical – helping businesses use technology to improve how they operate, reach new markets, and adapt more quickly.
So for me, resilience is about being ready, being flexible, and being able to move quickly when opportunities arise.
When it comes to translating green and digital strategies into economic growth and regional wealth, who risks being left behind in the twin transition, and what needs to happen now to ensure the gains are shared?
The biggest risk in the green and digital transition is that some businesses and communities move ahead quickly, while others fall behind. The groups most at risk are smaller businesses, businesses outside major cities, and those in more traditional sectors. These businesses often face higher costs, more uncertainty, and fewer resources to invest.
We also know that many SMEs still invest cautiously, often relying on their own cash rather than borrowing, even when funding is available. If we don’t address that, we risk creating a gap in the economy.
What needs to happen now is targeted support and real partnership. We need to make sure that businesses can access funding easily, that they have practical advice and support and they can build the skills needed to compete
What is Bank of Ireland’s role in driving economic growth, especially for SMEs?
This is where Bank of Ireland has a very important role to play. We support growth in three main ways.
First, we provide the funding businesses need to invest, whether that is through sustainability loans, growth schemes, or day-to-day working capital.
For example, we are part of the SBCI Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme, helping SMEs invest in their future at scale. Second, we support decision-making. Through our sector teams and relationship managers, we work directly with businesses to help them make informed choices in a complex environment.
Third, we support regional economies. SMEs are the backbone of communities across Ireland, and it’s important that investment reaches those businesses as well as the larger urban centres.
Ultimately, our role is quite simple – to help businesses move forward with confidence, and to make sure the opportunities from this transition are shared as widely as possible.
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