Trevor Annon, one of Northern Ireland’s best-known business figures, has said he is indebted to family and friends after he was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to business, sport and charity.
The founder and chair of Mount Charles has received the honour after almost four decades of building the company into one of the region’s largest private sector employers.
Founded in 1988, Mount Charles has grown from a start-up into a major facilities management, catering, cleaning and events business, employing more than 3,000 people across Ireland.
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The company is forecast to generate more than £60 million in revenue in the coming year, reinforcing its position as one of Northern Ireland’s most significant privately owned business success stories.
The honour also recognises the Belfast businessman’s long-standing voluntary roles with Crimestoppers and the Irish Football Association during periods of organisational pressure and change.
Annon said he was “truly honoured” to receive the MBE.
“When I set up the company 38 years ago, I never imagined Mount Charles Group being what it is today, the jobs it has created and the impact we have across Ireland every day,” he said.
“My work with charities and sport over the years has meant so much to me and it’s a privilege to be recognised with this MBE.
“I would like to thank my family, my team, my friends and my supporters for everything, as it simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Annon’s career has been marked by growth and resilience under severe pressure.
Mount Charles, as with many thousands of companies throughout the world, came under extreme pressure during the Covid-19 pandemic after losing 65% of its business within days. Around 500 staff were laid off as the company fought to protect its future.
The business survived after its management team moved quickly to renegotiate contracts with clients during what Annon has previously described as “a fight for survival”.
Rather than ending the Mount Charles story, the crisis became one of its defining moments. The company has since rebuilt momentum, expanded its base and strengthened its all-island operation.
Major companies, venues and public-facing institutions are on its client list including Moy Park, Spirit AeroSystems, Ulster Rugby, Down Royal Racecourse, ICC Waterfront Hall, Belfast International Airport, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Irish Blood Transfusion Services (IADT), Department of Health Dublin and Translink.
Beyond business, Annon was a founding member of Crimestoppers in Northern Ireland and served voluntarily as chair for 12 years.
During his tenure, the charity became a key channel for information on criminal activity, working with policing and community partners in an environment where public leadership carried real personal risk.
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He also served as senior independent director of the Irish Football Association at a time when the organisation was facing serious governance challenges.
His work is credited with helping strengthen the association’s governance structures, enabling it to access £36 million in government grant support towards the development of the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
After completing his term as an IFA director, he was appointed voluntary chair of the IFA Stadium Development Company, overseeing delivery of the stadium project on time and within budget.
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