Our Business Innovation course is aimed at agricultural, land-use or food businesses eager to gain the requisite knowledge and skills to grow their business.

A self-paced, online four-module course (with the option for online mentoring with an industry expert), this course is ideal for businesses seeking to unlock their potential and benefit from our industry expertise, wherever they are physically based in the world.

Who is the course suitable for?

  • Early-stage entrepreneurs and their teams
  • Established businesses looking to refresh their business plan
  • Businesses looking to innovate their current offering and explore new products
  • Larger companies wanting their employees to learn how to build a business

What you’ll achieve at the end of the course?

Greater understanding of the innovation process

Module one – Introduction and Resources – covers the three phases of the innovation process: ideation, development and commercialisation.

Discovery of how to manage ideas and develop customer value propositions

Module two – Idea Management and Customer Value Propositions - covers how to understand the value of your product or service to customers.

Elevated awareness of business viability

Module three – Testing and Validation - covers hypothesis testing, customer interviews and building a minimal viable product.

Creation of a strategy for business growth

Module four – Building a Strategy – covers how to create a business plan and manage associated actions.

Receive tailored advice from an industry-specific mentor

Module five – Mentoring – is an optional add-on to the course. Discuss your business innovation queries with an industry expert mentor over the course of two one-hour online sessions. 

A CPD Certificate of Completion and Innovation Academy membership discount

Delegates, on completion, will receive a CPD Certificate of Completion endorsed by the RAU and a 10% discount off Innovation Academy membership for one year.

How is the course delivered?

This is a self-paced online course which can accessed via an online platform. 

If you opt for mentoring sessions, these will take place online, alongside other Business Innovation course delegates.

Pricing

The course is £350 + VAT (without mentoring). Alternately, each module can be booked separately at £100 + VAT.

The course is £450 + VAT (with mentoring). Alternatively, each module or two mentoring sessions can be booked separately at £100 + VAT.

About the course designers and mentors

This course has been designed by the Innovation Academy @ the RAU team in collaboration with industry experts within farming, food and land use innovation.

If you opt for mentoring sessions as part of the course, these will be with an industry-specific mentor that best suits your business needs. 

Book now

This course can be started at any point throughout the year.

If you opt for mentoring sessions, we will liaise with you to connect with the most suitable mentor to meet your business needs.  

For more information and to book, please get in touch with us by emailing alliston.centre@rau.ac.uk or call +44(0)1285 889850.

Terms and conditions

Read our terms and conditions for short courses and CPD training here.

Please read these carefully before booking.