Join us on Thursday 12th March 2026 at Belfast's Crowne Plaza Hotel for the annual Women in Business Awards, where we will celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of women business leaders across Northern Ireland.

The Awards have been a beacon of celebration for over a decade and are all about recognising the contributions that women across Northern Ireland make to our economy every day.

Our host, Pamela Ballantine will guide us through the gala awards ceremony, sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business, as we get set to honour the trailblazing women who have achieved excellence across various local sectors and industries.

Award Finalists 2026

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Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award sponsored by Queen’s Business School
  • Corporate Finalist          Adepta Partners
  • Corporate Finalist          Aflac NI
  • Corporate Finalist          Cleaver Fulton Rankin
  • Corporate Finalist          Fujitsu
  • Corporate Finalist          HSC Business Services Organisation (BSO)
  • Individual Finalist           Diane Davis, Minority Recognition Awards NI
  • Individual Finalist           Emma Gilmour, Pathfinder Accessibility
  • Individual Finalist           Jennifer Smyth, Jenn's Gym
  • Individual Finalist           Ruth Maguire, The Nourish Consultancy
Apprentice of the Year
  • Alannah Cunningham, MJM Marine
  • Eimear Morrison, Fujitsu Services Ltd
  • Gizelle D'lima, Survitec Group Ltd
  • Katie McCosh, NIE Networks
  • Leah Rea, KPMG
  • Sarah Lyle, Cleaver Fulton Rankin
  • Seanna Maginn, Water Solutions Ireland Ltd
Best New Start Up
  • Aisling Brady, AB Mortgage & Protection Services
  • Donna & Patrice Mackle, Twin Secret
  • Gliosa Moore, Glow Up NI LTD
  • Lee-Anne Schmitz, MyPromoPal Ltd
  • Louise Keenan Clarke, Succeed with Confidence Limited
Customer Excellence Award sponsored by Fibrus
  • Corporate Finalist                Brigid Derry, Derry Bros Shipping & Customs Clearance
  • Corporate Finalist                Ciara Connolly, Direct Medics
  • Corporate Finalist                Marie Wilson, Wilson Nesbitt
  • Corporate Finalist                Natasha Crooks, Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited
  • Corporate Finalist                Maire Claire Reid, TST Group
  • Small Business Finalist      Clare McGoran, Used Cars NI
  • Small Business Finalist      Eimear Gourley, NI Property Girl
  • Small Business Finalist      Ormeau Labs
  • Small Business Finalist      Shannon McCloskey, One Step at a Time - Mental Health & Wellbeing
Innovation in Business Award sponsored by Belfast Harbour
  • Corporate Finalist    Anne - Marie Norton, Direct Medics
  • Corporate Finalist    Nicola Magennis, First Derivative
  • Small Business Finalist    Adrienne Hanna, Right Revenue
  • Small Business Finalist    Bernadette Hagans, Wrapsthetic
  • Small Business Finalist    Juliet Bakovljev, The Arzen Collective
  • Small Business Finalist    Lisa Smiton, Equine Safety Release
  • Small Business Finalist    Sarah Scullion, CAST Planning Ltd


 
Mentor of the Year
  • Darragh Doherty, Encirc
  • John Ferris, NatWest
  • Kim Coulter, KPMG
  • Maria McAllister, Bank of Ireland UK
  • Maria Moreno Diez, Fibrus Group Ltd
  • Orla Lynch, Founders Lab
Professional Services Excellence Award sponsored by McKeever Hotels
  • Corporate Finalist    Brigid Derry, Derry Bros Shipping & Customs Clearance
  • Corporate Finalist    Donna Vance, NUGENT Ltd
  • Corporate Finalist    Leah McFadden, First Derivative
  • Corporate Finalist    Natasha Adamson, Adamson Rice Law (NI) Ltd
  • Corporate Finalist    Sinead Stewart, Cleaver Fulton Rankin
  • Small Business Finalist    April Rose, April Rose Marketing
  • Small Business Finalist    Kathleen Faloon, Curve Training & Consultancy
  • Small Business Finalist    Katrina McCarthy, New Beginnings Scan Ltd
  • Small Business Finalist    Mabel Higgins, MH Fire Safety Ltd
  • Small Business Finalist    Maire Nawaz, Beecome More
  • Small Business Finalist    Olga McAteer, McAteer Solutions Ltd
Small Business of the Year sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt
  • Caoimhe McGlade, C no dirt cleaning services
  • Colette McNicholl, McNicholl Caravans
  • Eimear Gourley, NI Property Girl
  • Grace Smith, Forge Female Fitness
  • Lee-Anne Schmitz, MyPromoPal Ltd
  • Olga McAteer, McAteer Solutions Ltd
  • Sarah Thompson, Tedberry Limited

 
Transformational Leader of the Year sponsored by IQ&Co
  • Corporate Finalist    Anne-Marie Norton, Direct Medics
  • Corporate Finalist    Bridgene Keeley, McKeever Hotels
  • Corporate Finalist    Claire McBride, Fujitsu Services Ltd
  • Corporate Finalist    Elaine Toner, Eakin Healthcare
  • Corporate Finalist    Grainne McCartan, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS)
  • Corporate Finalist    Loreen Nicholl, Nicholl Fuel Oils Ltd
  • Corporate Finalist    Melissa Cochrane, Business Services Organisation (BSO)
  • Small Business Finalist    Aislín Cathcart, Adoreboard Ltd
  • Small Business Finalist    Diane Koplewsky, SHG NI Limited
  • Small Business Finalist    Joanne Harris, Knitted Knockers of NI Ltd
  • Small Business Finalist    Kathryn Donnelly, Clickclick Video Marketing Ltd
Growth & Scaling Business of the Year sponsored by Danske Bank
  • Anne-Marie Norton, Direct Medics
  • Ashleigh Averell, Ibrand Everything
  • Helen Jameson, Express Merchants
  • Louise Doyle, needi
  • Mabel Higgins, MH Fire Safety Ltd
  • Maire Claire Reid, TST Group
  • Marie Therese Connolly, Screen Clinical Ltd
Young Businesswoman of the Year sponsored by Direct Medics Healthcare Recruitment
  • Finalist (Corporate)    Abigail Duffy, Visiting Angels Northern Ireland
  • Finalist (Corporate)    Eimear Morrison, Fujitsu Services Ltd
  • Finalist (Corporate)    Jessica Gibson, Reward Insight
  • Finalist (Corporate)    Jude Cameron, Blow Moulding Technologies Ltd
  • Finalist (Entrepreneur)    Aileen McGuire, Apiphany Jewellery
  • Finalist (Entrepreneur)    April Rose, April Rose Marketing
  • Finalist (Entrepreneur)    Claire Ford, Viral Muse
  • Finalist (Entrepreneur)    Jennifer Smyth, Jenn's Gym





 

Don’t miss your place at the Women in Business Awards - an unforgettable evening of networking, meaningful connections and celebrating the outstanding talent within our business community.

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Our 2025 Winners

Award for Advancing Diversity in the Workplace | Sponsored by Queen’s University Business School

  • Cara Marks | Hays Recruitment

Award for Best Customer Service | Sponsored by Fibrus

  • Shauneen McNicholl, McNicholl Caravans Ltd | Small business

Award for Best Green Business | Sponsored by NIE Networks

  • Caitlin McCracken | Caitlin McCracken Knitwear

Award for Best in Professional Services | Sponsored by Crowne Plaza Belfast

  • Louise Kelly, Grant Thornton | Corporate
  • Hannah Mary Kennedy, HMK Property | Small business

Award for Best Marketing Campaign | Sponsored by STATSports

  • Jackie Kirk | Frozzys Ltd

Award for Best New Start Up | Sponsored by Clarke & Co.

  • Sarah McKegney | Percy & Pop

Award for Best Small Business | Sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt

  • Mabel Higgins | MH Fire Safety Ltd

Award for Excellence in IT | Sponsored by Glandore

  • Rosemary Josekutty Thomas, Version 1 | Corporate
  • Diana Thompson, Inclutech | Small business

Award for Outstanding Innovation | Sponsored by Belfast Harbour

  • Stephanie Brooks, Foods Connected | Corporate
  • Becca Hume, Inclutech | Small business

Award for Outstanding Apprentice | Sponsored by GRAHAM

  • Rebekah Humphrey | Frontline UK

Award for Outstanding Management and Leadership | Sponsored by IQ & Co.

  • Edwina Flynn | Wood Innovations Ltd

Award for Outstanding Mentor | Sponsored by Coca-Cola HBC

  • Clare Morris | McAdam Design

Award for Young Businesswoman of the Year | Sponsored by Allstate Northern Ireland

  • Martha Garbe | Basalt Distillery

Award for Businesswoman of the Year | Sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business

  • Jayne Taggart | CEO of Enterprise Causeway
Dates you need to know
  • Judging of Applications | Thursday 29th January 2026
  • Finalists Announced | Tuesday 3rd January 2026
  • Finalists Lunch | The Dunadry Hotel & Gardens, Friday 20th February 2026
  • Awards Gala | Thursday 12th March 2026
T&C's

1. Entrants must be based and have an office located in Northern Ireland.

2. Please ensure nominees are available on Thursday 12th March 2026 for the Awards Gala.

3. An application form will need to be completed for each entrant. The information provided will be disclosed only to the judges. Do not send any other documents / supporting materials as these will not be accepted.

4. There will be one winner per category (unless otherwise stated).

5. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging. All decisions regarding the judging process are made by our judging panel.

6. Details provided in the application form will potentially be used, with approval, for press releases and web content if the nominee is placed as a finalist or winner, so please ensure it is factually correct - we will not be liable for inaccuracies published based on nomination content and changes may not be possible after publication.

7. Applications that do not meet the entry criteria will not be accepted.

8. Entrants can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else.

9. Entrants can apply for more than one category but must submit a full application each time i.e. one category per application.

FAQ's

Q: Do finalists get a free ticket?

A: No, as a not-for-profit organisation, your support through ticket purchases helps us continue to provide high-quality services across the network.

Q: Can I attend the Awards event if I don't enter?

A: Yes, the Women in Business Awards is a popular event in the Northern Ireland business community. Tickets are available to purchase for anyone who wishes to attend.

Q: Do I need to be a Women in Business member to enter the awards?

A: No, the awards are open to everyone, regardless of membership status.

Q: Can I nominate myself?

A: Yes, you can nominate yourself for any of the award categories. Put yourself out there!

Q: Is it possible to submit entries for multiple categories?

A: Yes, you can submit entries for multiple categories. Please ensure each entry meets the specific criteria for the category.

Q: How do I enter the Business Woman of the Year category?

A: This category is not open to applications and is decided by our independent panel of judges.

🎥 Relive last year's Awards highlights

📷 Moments captured from 2025