The University of Chester Business School is celebrating the achievements of its talented entrepreneurs, who have been selected as finalists in the Young Enterprise North West Start Up Programme.

Embarking on a journey of enterprise after starting the Global Entrepreneurship and Business Management degree at the University, two talented student start-ups have been selected for the Company of the Year Final 2016, which takes place on February 24 in Liverpool.

Student start-up company Rawr Infusion have developed a pure cacao hot chocolate and the five entrepreneurs Kyle Roberts, Natasha Chipampe, Micha Adams, Georgie Barlow and Anthony Geogiou have recently launched their website.

Team member Anthony Geogiou, 21, from Bristol, who is in his second year, said: “Our passion began by experimenting with flavours by using high quality flavoured syrups and cacao. This enabled us to create a distinctive market of pure cacao hot chocolate.

“It has been exciting to work in a team and will be interesting to see what other great minds from the region have come up with when we pitch ourselves against other start-ups in the competition.”

Start-up company Aura has developed a gel fragrance offering a “scent like no other”.

Aura (students left to right) Sam Williams, Matt Bates, Tom Flanagan, Maranatha Peterside and Lydia Lord. Ryan Lee (not pictured) is also in the team

The idea of Maranatha Peterside, 19, from West London, it has been developed into an innovative and luxury product by a team of five with various scents uniquely presented in a wooden ball.

Maranatha, who has also been shortlisted for Student of the Year in the same competition, said: “My Global Entrepreneurship Degree has been really exciting this

year. As part of our course we had to launch our own business and we’ve already experienced so much success. This nomination from my tutor is the icing on the cake for me.

“My group was selected to represent the University at the regional finals and we hope to deliver an enthusiastic and eye-opening pitch and use what we have learnt to create a memorable stall, which will be graded by leading experts in their field.

“I am both excited and honoured to represent the University of Chester.”

As part of their studies, all Global Entrepreneurship students have to come up with a business idea, research their market, cultivate crucial business links, work on launching and developing the business and commence trading. This entrepreneurial endeavour also involves local business leaders who deliver masterclasses and talks to the students on a wide range of issues.

Head of department of business and finance Connie Hancock who nominated her students for the competition said: “Well deserved congratulations to our innovative start-ups Rawr and Aura who have reached the finals. Both companies have demonstrated outstanding professionalism in launching such innovative products and we wish them every success.

“Maranatha, shortlisted as Student of the Year, richly deserves this nomination for demonstrating extremely high levels of professionalism, commitment and enthusiasm resulting in excellent business outcomes for her entrepreneurial venture.

“In particular her pitching was outstanding, serving to secure financial backing for the company.”