Portadown entrepreneurs Timothy and Helen Jameson, founders of Express Merchants, have been named in BusinessCloud’s inaugural Founder 250, a new national list celebrating 250 of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs.
Express Merchants is the only Northern Ireland-based business represented on the 2026 list, while Helen is also recognised among the women founders building and leading some of the UK’s most ambitious businesses.
The Founder 250 brings together entrepreneurs from across the UK and a wide range of sectors. Timothy and Helen appear alongside the founders of nationally and internationally recognised businesses including Octopus Energy, Revolut, Castore, GoCardless and Mowgli Street Food.
Founded in Portadown in 2017, Express Merchants has developed a technology-enabled procurement model that helps multinational facilities management organisations and other large enterprises access the everyday materials, equipment and specialist suppliers their operational teams require.
Through its Breeze: Procure with Ease™ platform, Express Merchants simplifies purchasing, approvals, audit trails and consolidated invoicing while connecting clients with an extensive supplier network across the UK and Ireland.
The recognition continues an exceptional year for the company. Earlier in 2026, Express Merchants received The King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, becoming the only Northern Ireland recipient of a King’s Award in any category this year.
Helen Jameson, Managing Partner and co-founder of Express Merchants, said:
“To be included in BusinessCloud’s inaugural Founder 250 is a tremendous honour, particularly given the calibre of the entrepreneurs and businesses represented.
“We are especially proud that Express Merchants is the only Northern Ireland-based business on the list. There are so many innovative and ambitious companies being built here, and we hope our inclusion helps shine another positive light on Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurial talent.
“As a woman in business, it is also very special to be recognised alongside so many accomplished women founders from across the UK. Although our names appear on the list, this recognition reflects the dedication of our team and the trust and support of our clients and suppliers.”
Express Merchants now supports thousands of engineers and buildings across the UK and Ireland and is progressing plans to extend its model into the BENELUX region, including the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Timothy Jameson, Managing Director and co-founder, added:
“We founded Express Merchants with the belief that there had to be a simpler and more effective way for large organisations and their operational teams to procure the materials they need.
“To have that journey recognised nationally is extremely meaningful. It demonstrates that an innovative business built in Portadown can compete, grow and make an impact across the UK, Ireland and beyond.
“This has been a very special year for the Express Merchants team, and this latest recognition gives us even greater encouragement to keep building, innovating and pursuing our international ambitions.”
The full Founder 250 list is available at businesscloud.co.uk/founder-250-2026/
