Ike Sikuade, a Chemical & Process Engineering student at the University of Sheffield, and her sister Marion were frustrated by the lack of sophisticated luxury jewellery available online, and decided to design and create their own bespoke range. Soon friends and family were desperate to get their hands on the elegant pieces and the sisters realised there was a demand for such a product in the luxury online market.

Their online jewellery store, Colour Couture, was set up six months ago. The store is a niche jewellery e-boutique specialising in the luxury market. The jewellery is inspired by couture, every piece is handcrafted using the highest quality gemstones, crystals, silver and gold.

Shortly after setting up the business Ike entered the government-backed HSBC Unipreneur Awards, and has outperformed hundreds of young hopefuls to be short-listed in the competition.

The Awards, sponsored by HSBC Bank and presented in association with the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE), follows a recent study that suggests there could be as many as 80,000 students running a campus-born business – with some already on the way to their first million.

Contestant has to be attending a UK university, or have graduated on or after May 2006. The business must be under one year old at the start of the competition.

The overall winner of the awards will be decided at a gala evening at BAFTA on 23 April 2008, when five finalists will be quizzed live on-stage by a panel of experts about their business and why they deserve the first prize of £20,000.

Before she gets that far Ike's entry will be considered by a panel of local business experts who will select ten top new businesses to go through to the national judging session.

HSBC Head of Business Banking, Huw Morgan, said; "There is a new breed of young businessmen and women on the block who don't plan to use a good education making money for someone else – we call them the Unipreneurs and we are keen to support them.

"Their academic study has given them an awareness of structure and an appreciation of discipline.

"They have an understanding of business plans, finance and strategic thinking. They are analytical, creative, focused and so bring credibility to their business ventures that make them enthusiastic and competitive.

"We are delighted to sponsor these unique Awards in association with the NCGE, which will recognise their growing contribution, both to the community and the economy."

External links:

Colour Couture

HSBS Unipreneurs