The heating specialist took the title after being voted overall winner in The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Business Awards 2006 in association with bmi.

The largest heating company in Ireland, HEAT was chosen as number one in the province by an independent panel of distinguished judges headed by leading Ulster economist John Simpson.

The company, which is headquartered in the east of the city, was presented with the award at a glittering gala awards ceremony in Belfast's Ramada Hotel. Over 400 guests were there to help celebrate the best of Ulster business.

The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Business Awards, now in their seventh year, are considered the most prestigious business awards in Northern Ireland.

Once again this year entries were received from a broad spectrum of business sectors and commercial disciplines.

The judges agreed that HEAT was an outstanding company with sound strategic vision that had seen it through a successful transformation from a contracting-based culture to a partnering culture.

HEAT became part of the White Horse Group in 1999 and since then has been awarded significant contracts throughout the UK and the Republic.

HEAT has been branching out beyond the UK and Ireland too, having opened a training centre in the Czech Republic.

It is also developing contacts in Poland, other parts of Eastern Europe and China.

According to the judges, HEAT has positioned itself as a name synonymous with professionalism, capability, knowledge and expertise in every aspect of the domestic heating market.

Apart from being voted Northern Ireland's business of the year, the Belfast firm also picked up the accolade for having the best entrepreneurial team, one of nine category prizes in the annual awards.

In addition it was highly commended for its excellent training methods and was commended for its export achievements.

"Winning one of these commendations or being the ultimate winner of a category is no dawdle," said judging panel chairman John Simpson.

"These businesses have put themselves on the line and faced a form of competition that is unusual but no less significant than that competition that keeps them profitable and expanding," he pointed out.