'This is a hugely proud moment for us': Northern Ireland firm recognised with one of the UK’s highest business honours
Express Merchants is the only Northern Ireland business honoured, recognised for its Breeze platform transforming facilities management supply chains
A Portadown-based company has secured one of the UK’s most prestigious business honours after winning a King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2026.
Express Merchants Ltd, founded in 2017, is one of just 185 organisations across the UK to receive the award this year — and the only winner from Northern Ireland.
The business is also believed to be one of the first from County Armagh to win in the Innovation category, recognising the success of its platform Breeze: Procure with Ease.
The company was built around a simple idea — solving a problem experienced daily across the Facilities Management industry, where engineers were losing hours each week travelling to find basic materials needed to do their jobs.
That idea has since grown into a platform now used by major Facilities Management providers including CBRE, ISS, Mitie and Aramark, helping teams work more efficiently while reducing unnecessary travel and improving oversight of day-to-day spending.
Despite its rapid growth across the UK and Ireland, Express Merchants continues to operate from Portadown, with plans to expand further while creating opportunities locally.
Tim and Helen Jameson, owners of Express Merchants Ltd, said: “This is a hugely proud moment for us, not just as a business, but as a team based here in Portadown.
“We didn’t set out to build a tech company — we set out to fix a real problem we experienced ourselves. To see that idea now being recognised at this level, and being used by major organisations across the UK and Ireland, is incredibly rewarding.
“We’re proud to be building something from here that is making a real impact, and this award gives us even more confidence to keep pushing forward.”
Marking its 60th anniversary The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious business awards, recognising outstanding achievement across innovation, international trade, sustainability and opportunity. Winners are entitled to use the official King’s Awards Emblem for five years.
Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Businesses and Economic Transformation said: “A huge congratulations to every business receiving awards this year, who once again have illustrated the best of British innovation and talent.
“These awards show that right across the UK, there are small businesses that are thriving, growing and succeeding and it’s only right that we champion these successes.”
Formerly known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme was renamed four years ago to reflect His Majesty The King’s wish to continue the remarkable legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising the very best of UK business. Since their inception, over 8,000 British businesses have been recognised with this royal accolade.
His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenants – The King’s representatives in each county – will be presenting the Awards to businesses locally throughout the year. One representative from each successful business will also be invited to a special Royal reception event.