Royal Agricultural University logo 
 Main menu  Back
  • Study
    • Undergraduate
      • Courses
        • Partner colleges
      • View our prospectus
      • Undergraduate open days
      • Applying
        • Undergraduate entry requirements
      • Received an offer?
        • Important information about your offer
        • FAQs
        • Key dates and offer holder days
      • Funding your time at university
        • Student funding explained
        • Bursaries, awards and scholarships
        • Ways to pay your tuition and accommodation fees
      • Discover RAU
    • Postgraduate
      • Courses
      • Open days
      • Applying
      • Received an offer?
        • Important information about your offer
        • FAQs
        • Key dates
      • Fees and funding
        • Tuition fees
          • Fee status
        • Financial support
        • Paying fees
      • Postgraduate prospectus
    • Short courses
      • Rural skills
        • Courses
        • Directions to the Centre
        • Facilities hire
        • Paying for a course
      • Professional development
      • RICS APC short courses
    • International students
      • Your country
      • International orientation
    • Enterprise & entrepreneurship
    • Teachers and advisers
    • Semester dates
  • University life
    • Accommodation
      • Living on-campus
        • Explore our halls of residence
      • Living off-campus
      • Accommodation FAQs
      • How to apply
    • Campus facilities
      • RAU Unicard
        • Changes to Personal Details
        • Unicard Terms and Conditions
        • Managing Your RAU Unicard Account Online
        • Using Your RAU Unicard
        • Getting your RAU Unicard
        • FAQs
      • Careers service
      • Fitness centre
      • The Restaurant
      • University health centre
      • IT services
        • myRAU
      • Library
    • Support and wellbeing
      • Academic support
      • Disability and dyslexia
      • Wellbeing and counselling
      • Faith at the RAU
      • Student handbook
    • Why RAU?
      • Why Cirencester?
    • Social
      • Sports
      • Clubs and societies
      • University bar
      • Students' union
    • Graduation
  • Research
    • Academic research
      • Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Rural Economy
      • Equine Research Group
      • Business and Entrepreneurship Research Group
    • Publications
    • Research Excellence Framework
    • Fees, funding and studentships
  • About us
    • Organisation
      • History
        • Honorary fellowships
      • Mission statement
      • Governance
      • Staff
      • Academic information
        • Academic policies and procedures
        • Policy centre
        • External examiners
        • Module details
        • Collaborative provision
      • Public information
        • Sustainability
          • Sustainability opportunities
        • Equality and diversity
        • Freedom of Information
        • Financial statements
          • Charity information
          • Value for Money
        • Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom
    • Vice-Chancellor’s Welcome
    • Farms
      • Our farms
      • Fossehill Farm Stabling
      • Rural Innovation Centre
    • Venue hire
      • Conference & events
      • Weddings
      • Short breaks and B&B
      • Christmas at the Royal Agricultural University
    • Business services
      • Non-executive director programme
      • Research and consultancy
        • Expertise
        • Clients
      • Knowledge transfer partnership
      • RAU 100 club
      • Farm491
      • Cirencester Growth Hub
    • News and events
      • News
      • Events
      • Press
    • Jobs
      • Staff benefits
  • Accessibility
  • Info for:
  • Applicants (MyRAU)
  • Current students
  • Alumni
  • Staff
Alex Dunn - Winner of Grand Idea competition 2018 with Alex Crawley, runner up
  • Info for:
  • Applicants (MyRAU)
  • Current students
  • Alumni
  • Staff
  • Home
14 Jun 2018

Student’s farm safety business tipped for success by Levi Roots and Julian Dunkerton

Share this page

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email friend
  • Share on Google Plus

An idea to improve safety on farms has won a prestigious Dragon’s Den-style competition for student entrepreneurs.

The Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) 11th Grand Idea competition asked students to pitch their plans to expert judges to secure £2,500 of investment.

Winner Alex Dunn, 21, a third year agriculture student, faced the impressive panel including Levi Roots, of Reggae Reggae Sauce; Julian Dunkerton, of Superdry; Christine Cross, former Group Business Development Director at Tesco; Charlie Beldam, a former student and creator of Cotswold Gold extra virgin rapeseed oil and the RAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joanna Price.

Grand Idea 2018 panel: Levi Roots - Reggae Reggae Sauce, Julian Dunkerton - Superdry, Christine Cross - former Group Business Development Director at Tesco, Charlie Beldam - former student and creator of Cotswold Gold extra virgin rapeseed

Alex found success because her business idea aims to improve health and safety on farms at the same time as productivity.

Alex, from Reading, said: “The scariest part of pitching was before I went in. I was nervous sitting outside but inside it went quite smoothly. They asked about financing and my plans to take the business forward.

“The University’s Enterprise Society really helped me to develop my ideas, as well as a proof of concept and a business plan that was really scalable.

“What excites me most about the business is to be able to make a difference in the industry. It’s not only agriculture here – there are people studying business and equine and you can learn so much – food production, for example, is going to be so important in the future. The University helps you develop any business idea you’ve got, whether it’s related to the agricultural industry or not.”

Runner up Alex Crawley, 36, a former Ghurka who fought in Afghanistan changed career to farming through the RAU’s Graduate Diploma in Agriculture.

His Grazing Management business helps restore important rare grasslands (including here in the Cotswolds) which benefit from being grazed by hardy native cattle.

Alex said: “I think the idea resonated with the judges because it was about something bigger than just me or the business. The University offers great opportunities for service leavers – there are so many of us who enjoy working outdoors, being active and the camaraderie.”

Levi Roots, who is also part of the RAU’s Advisory Council, said: “I’ve be involved for many years, which I’m very proud of. You see so many diverse and different pitches. The key thing is passion – that the students believe in themselves.

“The business ideas coming along in recent years are much more technology focussed, talking about Blockchain for example. Things have really moved on.

“If you are a young person thinking about university I would definitely recommend the Royal Agricultural University. It has history but at the same time students here have great mentors and teachers – it starts there. If you have people that can inspire you, and influence your life, you are much more likely to take things in.

“If someone asked me what the difference was between Grand Idea and the pitch I did on BBC Dragons Den – this is not much different. I must have given one of the worst pitches ever – I wasn’t perfect and got some numbers wrong. What the Dragons saw was passion. These students are the same. It’s never just about the product, it’s about the person as well.”

Julian Dunkerton, co-founder of clothing brand Superdry said he was ‘staggered by the quality’ of the winning pitch from Alex.

He added: “The Grand Idea competition at the Royal Agricultural University is a fantastic concept. I’m enjoying being involved because it is exactly what I believe in for the future of this country, turning entrepreneurial ideas into real businesses and creating jobs.

“There are not many places where you can come and learn to be an entrepreneur –so it is a fantastic opportunity for those that are studying here and those who are going to be here in the future.”

Katy Duke, Head of Enterprise at RAU said: “The two ideas that impressed the judges most were based on strong business plans and they also demonstrated great passion and determination to see their ideas succeed. Our Enterprise Programme includes mentoring and support to ensure students get the confidence and know-how they need to make it as an entrepreneur.”

Katy Duke - Head of Enterprise at 11th Annual RAU Enterprise Awards evening programme

Over 11 years Grand Idea has received over 100 business ideas, and enabled many entrepreneurial students to launch and grow a successful business, such as BiJimini, which creates high-protein flour mixed with crickets.

The RAU was nominated in this year’s Guardian University Awards in the Employability and Entrepreneurship category, thanks to its Enterprise Programme and support for students starting their own businesses.

  • You are here:
  • Home
Royal Agricultural University logo Agrespect logo
Teaching Excellence Framework

© Royal Agricultural University
Limited Company Registered in England No. 99168
Charity Registered No. 311780

Royal Agricultural University Enterprises Ltd.
Registered in England No. 2752048

Contact us

Royal Agricultural University Cirencester Gloucestershire GL7 6JS UK

Find us on a map

Tel: +44 (0) 1285 652531

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Applicants (MyRAU)
  • Alumni
  • Work for us
  • Current students (Gateway)
  • Staff
  • Venue hire
  • Online shop
  • Home
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy notices
  • FOI
  • Equality & diversity
  • Contact us

Follow us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • linkedin
  • instragram