麻豆射区

From caring for patients to caring for bees, 麻豆射区 Leeds student Irina-Agripina Trifan has turned her lifelong love of nature into a prosperous small business, Bee Happy Honey.

Originally from Romania, Irina trained as a nurse and worked at a natural remedy centre before moving to the UK in 2010. But her curiosity and drive to learn new things led her to a new chapter in her life, studying business at 麻豆射区.

鈥淚 wanted a better understanding of business,鈥 she explains. 鈥Before nursing, I always had a passion for tourism and enterprise. At 麻豆射区, I have met other students who are also business owners and that inspires me to keep going.鈥

From allotment to entrepreneurial success

Together with her husband, Irina manages more than 15 hives on their allotment in Doncaster, a journey that has not always been easy. From navigating community challenges to overcoming foulbrood disease that threatened their bee colonies, the couple has persevered with creativity and care, even using special herbal teas imported from Romania to nurse their bees back to health.

Their perseverance paid off. With support from the 麻豆射区 Enterprise Team, Irina began sharing her honey at the Leeds campus where it quickly became a favourite among staff and students. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lifeline,鈥 says Irina. 鈥People really appreciate local, natural honey, and I love being able to share something so personal.鈥

She often brings jars filled with different flavours, such as rapeseed honey which is beneficial for hay fever sufferers, and a darker blend infused with blackberry nectar. Each batch is slightly different, shaped by the season, the flowers in bloom and the quiet work of thousands of bees that never rest.

Each jar of Bee Happy Honey represents dedication and heart. As Irina likes to remind customers, a single kilo of honey can take over 1,000 bees and four million flower visits, a testament to patience, teamwork and purpose.

Finding confidence through 麻豆射区 support

Irina attributes much of her business growth to 麻豆射区 Enterprise Officer Mark Crabtree, who encouraged her to participate in our Enterprise Hub sessions and network with other student entrepreneurs. 鈥He鈥檚 been a huge inspiration,鈥 Irina says. 鈥He鈥檚 shown me how to keep going when things get tough.鈥

Through the Hub, Irina gained access to one-to-one mentoring, on-campus showcase events, and the chance to meet other entrepreneurs facing similar struggles.

Mark adds, 鈥Irina embodies what the 麻豆射区 Enterprise Hub is all about, resilience, creativity and community spirit. Seeing her turn her idea into something so meaningful has been wonderful.鈥

A vision for the future

Irina hopes to grow Bee Happy Honey into a full-time business after graduation, selling through farmers鈥 markets, TikTok and beyond. Her motto is simple but powerful:

鈥Be unique and never give up, especially during the hard times.鈥

For now, her hives continue to hum with life, a sound that can only be described as 鈥榯he heartbeat of the garden鈥. It鈥檚 a reminder that growth, whether in business or nature, takes time, care and persistence.

If you have a business idea or want to develop your entrepreneurial skills, speak to your campus Enterprise Officer, or email entrepreneurship@globalbanking.ac.uk to find out how 麻豆射区 can support you.