Five women trailblazers from north west England win national award and £75,000 grant each

From AI-driven speech therapy to tampons which fight harmful bacteria, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards will empower five trailblazing women North West England to scale their innovative businesses and make a meaningful impact.

Each will receive a £75,000 grant, personalised business coaching, and access to networking, role modelling and training opportunities.

Research highlights significant hurdles for women entrepreneurs, including access to funding, and a lack of networks and visible role models. The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards address these issues, enabling women innovators to scale their businesses, whilst making a powerful impact on our economy and society.

The winners from North West England recognised today for their groundbreaking work include:

· Lucy Hope from Stockport, founder of The Daughters of Mars, has developed a groundbreaking tampon that releases special biomimetic proteins during menstruation. These proteins fight harmful bacteria and restore a healthy vaginal balance, preventing bacterial vaginosis (BV), which affects one in three women.

· Larnia Ryder from Chester, founder of Ryde, is revolutionising outdoor clothing with her inclusive and sustainable collection, ‘As Nature Intended.’ This line combines mainstream designs with inclusive sizing, adaptive features, and eco-friendly materials, ensuring everyone can enjoy the outdoors comfortably while promoting responsible fashion.

· Yun Bing, from Liverpool, co-founder of Beautiful Voice, is transforming speech therapy with AI and gamification. Her platform makes therapy more accessible and engaging by guiding patients through evidence-based exercises while helping healthcare professionals make data-driven decisions.

· Nicola Cassidy from Manchester, founder of Adjutant Software (PTSD Hub), is transforming PTSD support. After facing an 18-month wait for therapy, Nicola created PTSD Hub, an AI-enabled platform providing immediate coping strategies and peer support to bridge the gap while awaiting professional care.

· Judy Leung from Altrincham, founder of Sweqlink, empowers early-stage entrepreneurs through sweat equity partnerships, where professionals trade time and expertise for ownership stakes. By connecting underserved founders, especially women and minorities, with talent, Sweqlink fosters an inclusive innovation ecosystem, boosting startup success and economic growth.

Since launching in 2016, the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards have invested over £11 million in 200 women innovators and has built a vibrant community of over 10,500 women business leaders.

Today, a total of 50 pioneering women innovators have been awarded, spanning every nation and region of the UK. The awards continue to champion high-potential women business leaders from diverse backgrounds: 36% of the winners are from ethnic minority groups (excluding white minorities); 22% have long term conditions, illnesses or disabilities; and 50% have caring or parental responsibilities.

Commenting on her award win, Nicola Cassidy of PTSD Hub said: “Experiencing long waits for therapy inspired me to create PTSD Hub, offering immediate support for those with PTSD. Through PTSD Hub, I want to connect the power of peer support and AI to give people the coping strategies they need, when they need them most. Earning an Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award is a tremendous opportunity to expand our reach and demonstrate how lived experience combined with innovation can create solutions that understand and address users’ needs.”

The Awards drew 1,452 applications from women business leaders, 52% up on last year. This record-breaking engagement highlights the high demand for innovation support and potential to drive economic growth from women leading businesses in the UK. In total, £3.75 million in government funding is being awarded, with each recipient receiving 50% more than previous years.

Recent data across all Innovate UK competitions shows that 1 in 3 successful grant applications are now led by women, a significant jump from 1 in 7 when Women in Innovation was first launched.

Minister for AI, Feryal Clark, said: “From low-cost cancer treatments that could save lives through earlier diagnoses, to AI supporting our police to secure victims’ justice, this year’s Women in Innovation Awards winners are driving forward an exciting range of projects that could improve so many aspects of our lives.

“It is testament to the quality of these awards that previous winners have gone on to grow their business, secure major investments and partner with organisations from Google to Disney.

“It truly shows the value of Government investing in creative, women-led projects in every corner of the UK – supporting economic growth to deliver our Plan for Change.”

Dr Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK, said: “The Women in Innovation programme is a powerful catalyst for change, not just for the brilliant women entrepreneurs it supports, but for the entire UK innovation landscape. By breaking down barriers and amplifying diverse voices, Innovate UK are fostering a more inclusive and dynamic ecosystem that drives progress across all sectors. This programme is about more than funding – it's about creating role models, building networks, and inspiring the next generation of women innovators to dream big and transform our world.”

Emily Nott, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Innovate UK, said: “The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards spotlight the UK’s most groundbreaking women entrepreneurs. This year’s winners have shown incredible leadership and creativity. We’re thrilled to support them in scaling their businesses and inspiring the next wave of women innovators. Their success stories will undoubtedly pave the way for more women to enter and thrive in the world of innovation.”

Previous Women in Innovation Award winners have gone on to achieve remarkable success, including securing multi-million pound investments, expanding their operations, winning prestigious industry and royal awards, entering international markets, and forging high-profile partnerships with organisations such as Google, Disney and the NHS.

Explore all 50 of the remarkable award winners and discover how you could benefit from the programme by searching ‘Innovate UK Women in Innovation’ or visiting: bit.ly/IUKWomenInnovate