Why it matters: Melissa Dickinson, who founded The Menopause Vitamin Company in 2021, is featured in Small Business Britain's f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 campaign, which celebrates women driving innovation, growth and positive impact in their communities, while building successful and sustainable businesses.
The details: Melissa, 54, who left a hotel management career at 50 due to perimenopause, is being profiled for building a menopause wellness brand rooted in lived experience, professional training and evidence-based formulation. Her flagship product, Vibrancy Blend, is described as the UK's first all-in-one vegan menopause supplement, designed to support women's energy, sleep, hair, skin, nails, bones and joints in just two capsules a day.
Alongside running The Menopause Vitamin Company, Melissa is a qualified Menopause Wellness Practitioner and the founder of Menopause Support Suffolk. Through this work, she provides one-to-one support, community events and workplace menopause education.
What she's saying: "To be recognised alongside so many incredible female founders is an honour," said Melissa Dickinson. "Perimenopause had a huge impact on my health and confidence, to the point where I found it increasingly difficult to continue in a career I had loved for years. At the same time, I was overwhelmed by the cost and confusion of trying to manage my symptoms, buying multiple supplements, taking handfuls of pills, and still not feeling supported."
She added: "I wanted to create one high-quality product that covered everything women actually need at this stage of life. Vibrancy Blend was designed to be one simple solution rather than lots of different vitamins, and this recognition means so much because it shows that simple, honest ideas born from real experience can make a genuine difference."
What's next: Melissa said she is taking a "go big or go home" approach in 2026 after sales increased 20% on the prior year. In a recent interview with Ipswich.co.uk, she said: "I have played safe long enough. We're attending major shows like The Ideal Home Show and Pause Live and launching a new product. We're moving forward and reinvesting our profits."
The bigger picture: Female entrepreneurship continues to have a powerful economic impact, with estimates suggesting up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men.
Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and founder of Small Business Britain, said: "It is brilliant to feature Melissa Dickinson in this year's #IAlso100 campaign. All of the female entrepreneurs in this year's line-up are inspirational and remarkable role models. Their creativity, leadership and community impact show exactly why supporting female founders is so important, not only for the UK's economic growth but for the positive difference they make to wider society."
To view the full list of the 100 female business owners featured in this year's campaign, visit f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2026
The bottom line: From hotel manager to nationally recognised entrepreneur with ambitious plans for expansion, Melissa's journey has turned her lived experience into purpose, community impact and commercial growth.
