Norfolk-based firefighting technology manufacturer Delta Fire has officially received its two King’s Awards for Enterprise, marking another major milestone for one of the UK’s fastest-growing engineering businesses.
Having been announced as a winner of the 2025 King’s Awards for Enterprise in both Innovation and Sustainable Development, Delta Fire was formally presented with the Grant of Appointment by His Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, Michael Gurney, during a ceremony at the company’s headquarters on Thursday 9 July 2026.
The presentation included the official King’s Awards scrolls, approved on behalf of His Majesty The King and signed by The King and the Prime Minister, completing the formal recognition process almost a year after founder Ian Gardner and Jordon King, a member of Delta Fire’s senior leadership team and third-generation member of the family running the business, attended a reception at Windsor Castle, where they met His Majesty in recognition of the company’s achievement.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the highest official accolades for UK business, recognising outstanding achievement in areas including innovation, international trade and sustainable development. In 2025, Delta Fire was one of only two UK businesses to receive King’s Awards in two categories, recognising both its engineering innovation and leadership in sustainable manufacturing.
From its £5.5 million low-carbon manufacturing headquarters in Norwich, Delta Fire designs and manufactures advanced firefighting equipment used in more than 100 countries across a wide range of high-risk sectors, including aviation, defence, nuclear, marine and offshore, petrochemical, wildfire and forestry protection. Its flagship Attack Pro nozzle range, now used by the majority of UK Fire and Rescue Services, has established a global reputation for improving firefighter safety and operational performance, while new technologies are helping tackle emerging challenges including wildfires and battery energy storage system fires.
Beyond commercial success, Delta Fire’s engineering has also delivered humanitarian impact, supplying firefighting equipment to support frontline emergency responders in Ukraine and demonstrating the critical role British engineering continues to play in protecting lives in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
The Sustainable Development Award recognises Delta Fire’s long-term investment in environmentally responsible manufacturing, including achieving net zero across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, renewable energy generation, circular product design and continued investment in low-carbon production.
Since the King’s Awards were announced in 2025, the company has continued its growth trajectory, completing a significant expansion of its Norfolk headquarters with increased production capacity, advanced CNC machining, robotics and dedicated research and development facilities to meet growing international demand across defence, energy, marine and industrial markets.
The official presentation on Thursday brought together employees, customers, suppliers and partners alongside civic leaders from Norfolk County Council, Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council. Representatives from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, British Army, Fire and Rescue Services from across the UK, Make UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering, Innovate UK, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, the University of East Anglia and many other organisations attended the celebration.
A highlight of the day saw Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service deliver live demonstrations of Delta Fire’s award-winning firefighting equipment, showcasing British engineering that protects lives and critical infrastructure across the world. During the ceremony, the company also dedicated the awards to the memory of colleague Richard Smith, recognising his lasting contribution to Delta Fire’s success.
Jordon King, a member of Delta Fire’s senior leadership team and third-generation member of the family running the business, said:
“Receiving the King’s Awards is a proud moment, but what matters most is what they recognise – British engineering that saves lives, drives sustainability and competes successfully around the world. Over the past year we’ve continued to invest, expand and innovate, and these awards give us even greater ambition to grow UK manufacturing while developing the next generation of firefighting technology.”
The official presentation marks another milestone in Delta Fire’s journey from a family-owned Norfolk manufacturer to a globally recognised engineering business at the forefront of firefighting innovation, sustainable manufacturing and advanced engineering.
