Watching something that’s yours grow from something very little into a successful business is very rewarding.” Twenty-year-old Pharmacy student Annika Latimer, who has successfully established two baking ventures alongside her university studies, admits that her workload requires “a lot of time and commitment.” Her advice to other young entrepreneurs is: “It’s worth it in the end.” The former Collegiate pupil, from Brookeborough, is a first year Pharmacy student in Queen’s University Belfast. A keen baker, Annika was often called upon to bake cakes for neighbours and friends. What began as a pasttime grew by word of mouth and ‘Annika’s Cakes’ was born.

Determined to keep her venture alive during her university studies, Annika travels home each weekend to bake and she predicts that this summer will be a busy one by the oven as she fulfils lots of wedding cake orders.

The industrious student is also the brains behind ‘Beautiful Tastes’, a range of healthy and nutritious food products which aim to provide the correct mix and dosage of vitamins and nutrients for the body. Her creations include beauty biscuits for skin, hair and nail health; energy boosting flapjacks; anti-ageing bread; and child friendly chocolate snacks.

‘Beautiful Tastes’ is the result of Queen’s University Student’s Union enlisting Annika in the Belfast Enterprise Academy, a business support programme funded by Belfast City Council.

A total of 24 students from Queen’s, Ulster University and Belfast Metropolitan College were given support on setting up enterprises and developing business ideas. As well as participating in workshops and receiving one-to-one mentoring to explore and develop a business idea or product, the students had the chance to meet with a number of current successful business owners and learn from their experiences.

“We learned a lot from branding, marketing and legal mentors and developed a better understanding of what’s involved in running a business,” Annika explains.

The group also visited T13, the Northern Ireland Science Park and the Game of Thrones exhibition.

On the back of her experience, Annika hopes to see her ‘Beautiful Taste’ products on Belfast shelves sometime next year.

“I would ultimately like to set up my own pharmacy but I think I’ll always keep the baking as a side venture,” comments Annika, who also works part-time in Lisbellaw Medical Hall.

Being an entrepreneur requires “passion and determination”, she explains, adding: “You have to believe in what you want.” Wishing all of the BEA participants’ success with their products and new enterprises, Belfast Councillor Deirdre Hargey, said: “This is the sixth intake of students on the Belfast Enterprise Academy and this innovative pre-enterprise programme continues to go from strength to strength.

“Since the BEA began, 24 full-time businesses have been set up and 12 part-time with 47 jobs created.

“The programme encourages students to consider self-employment and develop business ideas and also emphasises the importance of entrepreneurship as a driver for our local economy.

“We believe that by developing our talented young people, we will form a strong base for our future entrepreneurs and economy. I now wish them every success for a bright business future.”