I chose the RAU because it's full of
very like-minded people. I've always
wanted to run my own business, I didn't
know what I wanted to do until I came
here, but the enterprise programs helped
me sort that out. To undertake this
process without the RAU backing
would have made it a lot harder, their
wealth of experience, their contacts, all
the things they've helped with has
really made this experience a lot
easier. Often this process is very
lonely and the enterprise team has always
been there for me; from working on a
business plan to actually make it happen,
to actually launch it in the business
world. It's open to all students at the Royal Agricultural University post
graduate, undergraduate, first, second or
third years, it's open to everybody. So the
value our students get out of the
enterprise program - it allows them to go
on a journey both personal and
professional. Our program is based around
four key principles of: think it, try it,
launch it, grow it. I solely came here
really to start a business because of
the enterprise scheme. It was a really
nice confidence boost just having people
reassure you and kind of guide you and
then say "here's the next step to go
onwards". Getting even more knowledge is really,
really good. What makes the programme here
unique is the different inputs that we
bring into it. They've got a wide range
of speakers, from different business
backgrounds, who give them lots of
different perspectives on how to get the
best out of their ideas and themselves.
We're passionate about helping young
businesses and we really enjoy seeing
how they evolve. We share that enthusiasm.
You're kind of inspiring people and
you're lighting a fire, but the amount of
information you can get in a very small
amount time can actually make the
difference between your business
succeeding or failing. Alongside this
structured program we also run two
social enterprises: Muddy Wellies ale and Cotswold Hills
wine. We will see students
at the start of the year who are looking
to work on, say, their confidence or it
might be that they want to work on their
marketing or their sales pitch and we
will give them the opportunities
throughout the year to hone those skills.
Being an entrepreneur and having an idea
is the easy bit. Those business
operating principles, if you have to
learn it the hard way through losing
your own money, that's tough. If you can
learn it by somebody telling you what
the pitfalls are then that's so much
better.
Being surrounded by like-minded people, really
wanting to start businesses, all in the
same boat together, bouncing ideas off
each other I find a really nice
environment to launch your company. I
pitched a couple of weeks ago and
actually got a grant for 250 pounds,
which is amazing, so I can buy some
samples in and get the ball rolling. I
don't know of any other university that
offers such a well-rounded program that
can offer so much for these students that
are already so entrepreneurial but
perhaps just need those couple of
extra contacts and tips, things that can
really get them moving forward to the
next step.
 
