Portglenone’s Siobhan Kearney wins £1,000 and secures Northern Ireland final spot with menopause support business

Entrepreneur Siobhan Kearney celebrates with Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon after she won the Mid and East Antrim Ultimate Pitch final in Larne Town Hall, securing her place in the regional final with her business Menopause ChangeMaker®, that helps companies support employees experiencing menopause

Saturday 10 October 2026

A Portglenone entrepreneur helping employers better support women experiencing menopause has won £1,000 in business investment and secured a place in a Northern Ireland-wide competition final, where a further £5,000 is at stake.

Siobhan Kearney impressed judges with her business, Menopause ChangeMaker®, at the Mid and East Antrim heat of Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch, held at Larne Town Hall.

Her success means she will now represent the borough at the regional final in Bellaghy on 18 November, competing against entrepreneurs from across Northern Ireland.

Helping workplaces respond to menopause

Menopause ChangeMaker® works with employers to improve understanding of menopause and provide practical support for employees experiencing its effects.

The business offers evidence-based training, resources and consultancy designed to help organisations create more supportive workplaces while retaining experienced staff and their valuable skills.

For employers, the approach addresses an important workplace issue: how to support employees through menopause while helping them remain confident, productive and valued in their roles.

Siobhan's winning pitch was selected from 10 entrepreneurs who presented their business ideas at the Mid and East Antrim competition.

Recognition for two more local entrepreneurs

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Alderman Thomas Gordon joins the winners of the Mid and East Antrim Ultimate Pitch final in Larne Town Hall, from left,Aisling Willighan, Rising Star award winner, overall winner Siobhan Kearney who secured her place in the regional final with her business Menopause ChangeMaker®, that helps companies support employees experiencing menopause, and Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award winner Aisling Willighan

Two other entrepreneurs received recognition for their business ideas during the event.

Aisling Willighan won the Rising Star award for Hearth & Paper, a business offering a carefully curated range of stationery and paper goods.

Jeanette Hanna received the Inclusive Entrepreneurship award for Aspire, a day opportunities service she established for young adults with learning disabilities, autism and additional needs.

The awards recognised different approaches to entrepreneurship, from developing a retail business to creating opportunities and support for people with additional needs.

Mayor praises local business talent

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, congratulated the participants and highlighted the determination required to turn a business idea into reality.

He said:

“We are tremendously proud of all those who both submitted an entry and made it to the local heat final. Taking the first step in entrepreneurship requires courage, determination and belief in an idea, and every participant showcased impressive creativity and potential.

“We are delighted to be part of the Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch programme, providing a platform for local entrepreneurs to share their ideas, build confidence and inspire others. The quality of pitches on display from Mid and East Antrim highlights the strength of entrepreneurial talent across our community.

“Congratulations to all who took part, and to Siobhan Kearney, what an achievement! We can’t wait to see you pitch at the final in November.”

£5,000 prize awaits regional winner

Siobhan will join the winners from Northern Ireland's 10 other council areas at The Ultimate Pitch regional final, taking place at Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, County Londonderry, on Wednesday 18 November.

The finalists will compete for the overall Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch Award, which carries £5,000 in additional investment to help develop the winning business.

The overall winner will also receive a business development package comprising:

• A professional photography session supplied by Brian Thompson Photography.

• A podcast recording session supplied by Attention X Studio NI.

• Membership of Toastmasters.

• A media training session supplied by LK Communications.

Additional awards will recognise entrepreneurs across four categories:

• Go Succeed Social Impact Award.

• Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award.

• Go Succeed Rising Star Award, recognising an inspiring entrepreneur aged 16 to 25.

• Go Succeed People's Choice Award, presented to the contestant receiving the most public votes.

Each category winner will receive £1,500 towards developing their business idea.

Support available for local entrepreneurs

The Ultimate Pitch competition is organised through Go Succeed, a government-backed enterprise support service funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Ireland's 11 councils.

The programme supports people considering starting a business, newly established entrepreneurs and existing companies seeking to grow.

Available support includes business mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, guidance on accessing grant funding and assistance with business planning.

Further information about the programme and the support available can be found at www.go-succeed.com.

For Siobhan, the November final offers an opportunity to secure further investment and raise the profile of a Portglenone business tackling an issue that affects workplaces well beyond Mid and East Antrim.