Portadown-based procurement technology firm Express Merchants has marked its King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation by attending a Royal reception at St James's Palace hosted by His Majesty King Charles III.

Managing Director Tim Jameson represented the business at the gathering, where award recipients from across the United Kingdom came together to celebrate this year’s King’s Awards honourees.

The event, hosted by His Majesty The King and attended by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, recognised organisations excelling in innovation, international trade, sustainable development and social mobility.

Express Merchants was the only company from Northern Ireland to receive a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2026, with the accolade acknowledging the firm’s innovation in overhauling operational procurement through its Breeze platform.

During the evening, Tim Jameson met Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and discussed the company's evolution from a Northern Ireland start-up to an award-winning technology provider supporting enterprise organisations throughout the UK and Ireland. He was joined by Ian Crowe, Lord-Lieutenant of County Londonderry and His Majesty The King's representative for the county, who attended in support of Northern Ireland’s King’s Award recipient. The occasion underscored the strength of innovation emerging from Northern Ireland 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 for its proprietary procurement platform, Breeze, which is changing how large facilities management organisations buy everyday operational materials. The platform connects enterprise organisations with a network of more than 10,000 supplier locations across the UK and Ireland, streamlining procurement, strengthening governance and opening new opportunities for independent suppliers.