From Hair and Beauty to Award Winning Entrepreneur

Monday 27 July 2026

Last month, Ballymena entrepreneur Grainne Bankhead was named Northern Ireland Hospitality, Tourism & Events StartUp of the Year at the UK StartUp Awards, securing a place at the UK national finals this September. More recently, Help You Home was also shortlisted for Start-up of the Year at the Antrim Business Awards, recognising the business's continued growth and impact.

For Grainne, the recognition marks a journey she never expected to take.

The idea behind Help You Home was inspired by a personal travel experience in 2019, when she found herself unexpectedly alone in an unfamiliar city.

Although nothing serious had happened, she quickly realised how overwhelming it can feel when you can't easily access the information you need.

"I never set out to build a tech company. I was simply trying to solve a problem," says Grainne.
"I learned first hand how quickly you can panic when you're away from home and don't know what to do next. I found myself searching through messages, emails and booking confirmations trying to find information I thought I'd need.

"That experience made me realise how much confidence comes from preparation. Most trips don't involve emergencies. They involve moments of uncertainty. Getting lost, losing signal, being separated from friends or trying to find important information when you need it quickly."

That experience became the foundation for Help You Home, a travel preparation platform that helps travellers organise important information before they leave, making it quick and easy to access if plans change or something goes wrong while they're away. The platform combines an app with an optional NFC wristband, giving travellers another way to access support if they cannot use their phone.

Coming from a completely different career, Grainne had no background in technology or software development. Building a tech business meant learning an entirely new industry while turning an idea into a product that could make a genuine difference to travellers.

As a member of Women in Business, she has benefited from a supportive network of female entrepreneurs, opportunities to connect with like minded founders and access to business support throughout her journey.
In 2025, Grainne also took part in the TechSpark programme, gaining valuable insight into Northern Ireland's technology ecosystem while developing the skills, knowledge and connections needed to grow a technology business.

"Building a business can feel lonely at times, especially when you're entering an industry that's completely new to you. Being part of Women in Business and taking part in TechSpark gave me the opportunity to learn from others, ask questions and build relationships with people who genuinely wanted to help."

Today, Help You Home is available on Android and iOS, helping travellers organise accommodation details, emergency contacts and key trip information before they travel, alongside features designed to make accessing help quicker and easier when it's needed.

The judges at the UK StartUp Awards praised Help You Home for tackling a practical challenge many travellers face and recognised Grainne's journey from an idea inspired by personal experience to a live platform with meaningful potential.

As she prepares to represent Northern Ireland at the UK StartUp Awards national finals this September, Grainne hopes her story encourages other women to pursue ideas they believe in, regardless of their background.
"You don't need to come from the tech industry to build a tech business. If you've found a real problem that needs solving, don't let a lack of experience stop you. There is so much support available, and programmes like TechSpark and organisations like Women in Business show just how powerful that support can be."

For Grainne, the journey is about more than building technology.
"It's about helping people travel with greater confidence and showing that sometimes the best business ideas come from solving the problems you've experienced yourself."

Monday 27 July 2026