UNIVERSITY of Chester students have won two awards and showcased their carbon-cutting venture to HRH The Princess Royal.

They took part in a UK competition championing young entrepreneurs who are leading the way with their enterprise and innovation.

Representing the North-West, students from the university's business school were recognised at the Young Enterprise (YE) UK Start-Up Final.

The team was presented with the award for Best Pitch Deck and team member Eleanor Jones was awarded the title of Student Entrepreneur of the Year.

The Pitch Deck award was presented after the students submitted their business plan in advance, and took part in the pitching competition on the day.

The Student Entrepreneur award is given to a student who has developed significantly as a result of the start-up journey. 

Chester and District Standard:

They were the first of the 15 teams from across Britain to speak to Anne, Princess Royal, who showed great interest in their eco-friendly business, A Wild Life.

The business offers seeded cardboard boxes, as a more sustainable way to package goods.

Consumers can plant the packaging which is integrated with flower or vegetable seeds.

She spoke to each member of the business: Eleanor Jones; Josh Sellings; Aaron Jones; Demi Evans, and Jade McArdle, who provided an overview of their product and business journey.

The students are currently in the second year of their undergraduate degree studies in Business Management, International Business Management and Events Management at Chester Business School.

They developed the idea as part of the Entrepreneurial Thought in Action module which is one of the ways students are supported to start their own business and learn the skills of new enterprise management.

Jade McArdle, managing director of A Wild Life, said: “Our young enterprise journey has been incredible. It has taught me so many personal and professional skills that I can take forward with me. Meeting HRH Princess Anne and explaining our business to her was an amazing experience that I am very proud of.” 

Josh Sellings added: “To share this entrepreneurial journey with this amazing team has been an absolute pleasure and I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience.

"This journey has taught me so much about myself and improved all aspects of my character while improving my business knowledge and experience. I can't wait to be a part of what A Wild Life does next"

The YE UK Start-Up Final was held at the University of Salford and welcomed student entrepreneurs from across the UK to pitch their business to a panel of respected judges from organisations including The Marketing Trust and The Institute of Leadership and Management. 

 

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