A BUSINESS plan to improve health and safety on farms has won the Royal Agricultural University's prestigious Grand Idea competition for student entrepreneurs.

The Cirencester based university staged the 11th Grand Idea competition which asks students to pitch their plans to expert judges to secure £2,500 of investment in the Dragons Den style competition.

Third year student Alex Dunn, 21, impressed faced the panel which included Levi Roots, of Reggae Reggae Sauce; Julian Dunkerton, of Superdry; and 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.

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

She said: “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. “I was nervous sitting outside before pitching but inside it went quite smoothly. They asked about financing and my plans to take the business forward."

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.”