A Coventry University student is through to the final of a competition to find the UK’s Most Enterprising Student.

Yiannis Maos, a third year media production undergraduate, is through to the national Shell Step event in London on October 10.

The 24-year-old was a winner at both the University of Warwick Science Park Final and the Central England Final.

The Shell Step programme places undergraduates with small and medium sized companies to look at particular challenges in developing the business and is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the University of Warwick Science Park.

Yiannis, who lives in Stoke, Coventry worked at Rapide Communication based at the Binley Innovation Centre throughout the summer holidays.

Rapide allows companies to send communications including text, media and voice messages – putting them in touch with thousands of customers and staff.

Their client list features a quarter of all FTSE 100 companies boasting blue chip firms including BMW, Barclays Bank, Coca Cola and Manchester United Football Club.

Yiannis was given three projects while at Rapide all aimed at increasing the company profile and the number of products offered to clients.

His final project was the creation of a new product around a text number ‘66099’. Working alongside the software development team, he devised a feedback service allowing companies to receive voice and SMS responses – a product now used by clients including Glasgow Rangers Football Club to generate sales leads.

Yiannis said: “It has been a fantastic opportunity working for a company so dynamic and open to new ways to develop projects – and getting an overview of how a business runs has been very useful.

“I’m ecstatic to get through to the National Final and now I just want to do my best for the Science Park and Rapide.”

Ian Hurst, development manager at Rapide Communication, said Yiannis deserved the success he has achieved: “He has brought real enthusiasm to this role and has in fact recently accepted the offer of a part-time position with us while he finishes his studies,” he said.

“This is an exciting time for Rapide - we are just about to move into new larger offices and we need young people like Yiannis to drive the business forward with innovative ideas.”

David Grindrod, the University of Warwick Science Park Deputy Director, congratulated Yiannis for his achievement.

He said: “The Shell Step programme is now in its 21st year and the quality of the students’ work never fails to impress me.

“We have had national finalists and winners in recent years and we wish Yiannis all the best next month.”