Express Merchants celebrates King’s Award at Royal reception hosted by His Majesty The King
10th Jul 2026
Portadown-based procurement technology company Express Merchants has celebrated receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation—one of the United Kingdom’s highest honours for business excellence—by attending a Royal reception at St James’s Palace hosted by His Majesty King Charles III.
Managing Director Tim Jameson represented the company at the prestigious celebration, where recipients from across the United Kingdom gathered to mark the achievements of this year’s King’s Award winners.
Hosted by His Majesty The King, alongside Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the reception recognised businesses that have demonstrated exceptional achievement in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and social mobility.
Express Merchants was honoured to be the only business from Northern Ireland to receive a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2026, recognising the company’s innovation in transforming operational procurement through its award-winning Breeze platform.
During the evening, Tim had the opportunity to meet Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, discussing Express Merchants’ journey from a Northern Ireland start-up to an award-winning technology business supporting enterprise organisations across the UK and Ireland.
Tim was also joined at the event by Ian Crowe, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry, His Majesty The King’s representative for the county, who attended in support of Northern Ireland’s King’s Award recipient. The occasion highlighted the strength of innovation emerging from Northern Ireland’s business community and its growing contribution to the wider UK economy.
Speaking after the reception, Tim Jameson said:
“Receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise is an incredible honour for our business and for everyone who has been part of our journey.
Attending the reception at St James’s Palace was a truly memorable experience and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate alongside some of the UK’s most innovative businesses. Meeting Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and representing Northern Ireland on such a prestigious occasion made the evening even more special.
While I had the privilege of attending on behalf of Express Merchants, this recognition belongs to our entire team, our clients, our suppliers and all those who have supported us over the past nine years. Their belief in what we’re building has helped make this achievement possible.”
Express Merchants received the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in recognition of its proprietary procurement platform, Breeze, which is transforming how large facilities management organisations purchase everyday operational materials. The platform connects enterprise organisations with a growing network of more than 10,000 supplier locations across the UK and Ireland, simplifying procurement, strengthening governance and creating new opportunities for independent suppliers.
The company is continuing its expansion into mainland Europe, with the BENELUX region forming the next phase of its international growth strategy. The King’s Award represents another significant milestone as Express Merchants continues to develop innovative technology that supports both enterprise customers and local supplier networks.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the United Kingdom’s most prestigious business awards and recognise organisations that demonstrate outstanding achievement in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.
