Express Engineering Group, a global leader in the manufacture, assembly, and testing of precision-engineered solutions, has been awarded the UK’s most prestigious business accolade: The King’s Award for Enterprise.
The group, which comprises Express Engineering in Gateshead and QA Weld Tech in Middlesbrough, has been recognised in the International Trade category for ‘Outstanding Short-Term Growth’.
Only 185 organisations across the UK have received a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2026. They are the most prestigious official accolades for UK businesses, granted annually to recognise and encourage outstanding
achievements in the British private sector across four specific categories: International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.
This honour follows a period of record-breaking performance in which Express grew its overseas sales by more than 91% between 2022 and 2024, generating £78 million in export sales over that period. This achievement solidifies the group’s status as one of the North East’s largest and most successful exporters, delivering safety-critical components to major offshore energy and infrastructure projects across the globe.
Founded in 1973 by the late Keith Thompson MBE, Express Engineering Group has evolved over five decades from a local workshop into a £60 million turnover global engineering powerhouse employing approximately 330 highly skilled people across seven advanced manufacturing facilities in Gateshead and Middlesbrough.
The group’s success is built upon its unique capability as a full turnkey supplier, managing the entire production lifecycle of safety-critical products – from initial material sourcing and world-class precision machining to specialist welding, cladding, and rigorous assembly and testing. Operating as a vital Tier 1 partner to global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), the group counts industry leaders, including TechnipFMC, OneSubsea, Aker Solutions, and Baker Hughes, among its key customers.
The group’s reach extends far beyond its regional roots. Exporting now represents 75% of annual turnover, with precision-engineered components deployed in the world’s most hostile environments, from the crushing pressures of the deep sea to the stringent safety requirements of the power generation, nuclear, and defence sectors. From its bases in Gateshead and Middlesbrough, the group services major offshore projects in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Africa, Malaysia, and Australasia.
Reflecting on the achievement, Chris Thompson, Chairman of Express Engineering Group, said: “I have dedicated more than 50 years to this business, and growing the company my father founded into a world-leading exporter has been an immense privilege. This King’s Award is a testament to our people, from those team members who have been with us for decades to the talented apprentices who are the future of our trade. Our growth has always been built on a foundation of technical expertise and a global reputation for excellence. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I know that the business is in a stronger position than ever to continue flying the flag for North East engineering on the world stage.”
The King’s Award follows a decade of strategic investment designed to strengthen the group’s technical capability, manufacturing capacity and international reach. In October 2013, Express Engineering Group secured investment from LDC, the leading private equity investor, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, to support its international expansion strategy, drive growth in new markets and increase capacity.
LDC and Chris Thompson provided follow-on investment in 2017 and 2019 to further support the growth of the business. This included the opening of a £3.5 million, 48,000 sq. ft purpose-built International Assembly and Test
Centre in Gateshead in 2020, enhancing response times, operational productivity and support for its global subsea customer base.
Further growth followed in 2023 with the acquisition of Middlesbrough-based QA Weld Tech, which expanded the group’s service offering, added specialist welding and fabrication capability, and opened access to new products and markets.
In October 2025, QA Weld Tech expanded into a new dockside facility in Middlesbrough to support continued demand for larger-scale global projects. The site provides an expanded manufacturing footprint, enabling the team to handle larger, more complex fabrications and heavy assemblies.
While the group’s products are deployed worldwide, its operations remain deeply rooted in the North East. Express Engineering Group continues to work closely with a network of regional suppliers and remains committed to developing future engineering talent through its apprenticeship programme, helping train the next generation of machinists, welders and engineers.
Craig Swinhoe, CEO of Express Engineering Group, added: “Express Engineering and QA Weld Tech are remarkable businesses with deep roots in this region and a hard-earned reputation for precision and reliability. This award is a fantastic recognition of our ability to service the most demanding global markets from our bases in Gateshead and Middlesbrough.”
“We have an incredible team here, and we have worked hard to foster a culture of engagement, making the group a great place to work where people feel valued and proud to contribute. We are immensely proud of our role in the global supply chain and the local partnerships that make our success possible. As we look ahead, we will continue to strengthen the business and attract new talent to help us grow and increase our service offering, ensuring we remain a trusted Tier 1 partner capable of delivering the advanced technical solutions and exacting safety standards our customers rely on across the subsea, power generation, defence, and nuclear sectors.”
For more information, visit www.express-engineering.co.uk
Express Engineering Website: www.express-engineering.co.uk
Email: sales@express-engineering.co.uk
LinkedIn: Express Engineering Group Head Office: Kingsway, Team Valley, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE11 0EG
QA Weld Tech Website: www.qaweldtech.com
Email: enquiries@qaweldtech.com
LinkedIn: QA Weld Tech Office: 2a Bowes Road, Riverside Park Industrial Estate, Middlesbrough, TS2 1LU