The co-founder of Belfast-based recruitment company Grafton Employment Solutions is to be honoured by the Czech Republic.

Ken Belshaw will receive an award at the same ceremony as this year’s other Laureats including former US Secretary of state Madeleine Albright.

The Gratias Agit Award is presented by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs to individuals and organisations that have promoted the Czech Republic abroad. The Czech Ambassador to Ireland, His Excellency Josef Havlas, said: “I am delighted that Ken Belshaw’s tireless work promoting all that is good about the Czech Republic is being recognised and honoured in this way. In the Czech Republic we have long looked upon Ireland and her economic success as an example of what we can achieve. For many years, Ken Belshaw has shared this vision and has travelled through Ireland promoting the opportunities for Irish investors and strengthening the bonds between our two great countries.”

The official citation, which will be read at the presentation ceremony in the Czernin Palace, Prague includes the following:

“Born on 14th May 1952, Kenneth Belshaw was among the first Irishmen to ‘discover’ the Czech Republic after the Velvet Revolution. In 1994 he initiated the opening of the first foreign branch of Grafton Recruitment in Prague, which was later to become the company’s regional head office for Central and Eastern Europe."

Although based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Grafton describes itself as an “all-Ireland” and international company.