Impact and innovation took centre stage at the 2026 Women in Business Awards on Thursday evening when close to 500 delegates came together to recognise and reward Northern Ireland’s best in the business.

New to the showpiece ceremony this year was the all-new Growth and Scaling category which was one of 11 awards presented at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel to reflect the rich breadth and strength of women-led enterprise across the region.

Attendees heard from Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly who opened the event as keynote speaker. The highly acclaimed Business Woman of the Year 2026 award, sponsored by Virgin Media O2 Business, was presented to Mairead Mackle MBE, Founder and CEO of Tarasis Enterprises. Mairead is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, non-exec board member and this top honour recognises her passionate voice in values-based leadership, female empowerment and using business for good globally, nationally and locally.

The annual Women in Business ceremony, now in its 14th year, champions those women professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders leading from the front on innovation and inclusion, at a time when female-led company creation in Northern Ireland outpaces the rest of the UK.

The 2026 Women in Business Award winners are:

Award for Growth & Scaling Business of the Year sponsored by Danske Bank

Helen Jameson, Express Merchants

Award for Young Business Woman of the Year (Corporate and Entrepreneur) sponsored by Direct Medics Healthcare Recruitment

Corporate: Abigail Duffy, Visiting Angels Northern Ireland

Entrepreneur: Jennifer Smyth, Jenn's Gym

Award for Diversity and Inclusion Champion sponsored by Queen’s Business School

Corporate: HSC Business Services Organisation

Individual: Diane Davis, Minority Recognition Awards NI

Award for Customer Excellence sponsored by Fibrus

Corporate: Natasha Crooks, NIE Networks

Small Business: Shannon McCloskey, One Step at a Time - Mental Health & Wellbeing

Award for Professional Services Excellence sponsored by McKeever Hotels

Corporate: Sinead Stewart, Cleaver Fulton Rankin

Small Business: Mabel Higgins, MH Fire Safety Ltd

Award for Best Small Business sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt

Olga McAteer, McAteer Solutions Ltd

Award for Transformational Leader of the Year sponsored by IQ&Co.

Corporate: Melissa Cochrane, Business Services Organisation (BSO)

Small Business: Aislín Cathcart, Adoreboard Ltd

Award for Innovation in Business sponsored by Belfast Harbour

Corporate: Anne - Marie Norton, Direct Medics

Small Business: Adrienne Hanna, Right Revenue

Award for Best New Start Up sponsored by AIB

Lee-Anne Schmitz, MyPromoPal Ltd

Award for Apprentice of the Year

Seána Maginn, Water Solutions Ireland Ltd

Award for Mentor of the Year

Maria Moreno Diez, Fibrus

Award for Business Woman of the Year 2026

Mairead Mackle, Tarasis Enterprises

Commenting on this year’s winners, Women in Business CEO Roseann Kelly said: “It is truly an honour to bring together this lineup of incredible businesswomen whose year-round impact on the Northern Ireland economy has been nothing short of exceptional.

“Through these Awards, we shine a light on success, recognising the resilience and ingenuity within women-led businesses from start-ups all the way to established enterprises. In doing so, we champion these remarkable people for what they are: role models and a source of inspiration for the leaders of tomorrow. To all the 2026 winners and finalists, congratulations. I know I speak for the entire Women in Business team when I say, we look forward to seeing what the future will bring for you and your business.”

Jo Bertram, Managing Director of Business at Virgin Media O2 Business, added: “Huge congratulations to all of this year’s Women in Business Award winners. We are genuinely proud to celebrate the passion, determination and leadership you bring to your organisations and the wider business community. Your achievements don’t just drive performance - they create opportunity, build confidence in others and help shape a more inclusive future for us all.”

Podcast partner Caroline O’Neill and the Digg Podcast team recorded a red-carpet special with this year’s winners which is available now across podcast and streaming platforms.