Lewis won the Grand Idea Competition in 2015 with his business Lily Warne Wool and launched a second, award-winning business, The Dartmoor Shepherd in the year following graduation. His 600- strong, ancient breed flock of Dartmoor sheep now source his gourmet lamb business which supplies local restaurants and an online meat-box scheme - as well as luxury sheepskin products which are retailed online, at shows and into interior design outlets.

I graduated in 2004 after completing the three year, RICS accredited, BSc (Hons) Rural Land Management course. My time at the Royal Agricultural College, as it was then called, was not only extremely enjoyable but it also set me up with many contacts and an educational pedigree from which I have benefitted throughout my career to date.

Why did you choose to study this course at the RAU?

I am from a polo background, and live just over an hour away from Cirencester. Studying here has allowed me to continue to follow my passion for producing polo ponies. Business was my favourite subject at school and I have always had a love for sales. In the future I will look to work abroad, this course will not only teach me the skills needed, but also help me achieve this through RAU’s large network of international contacts in a range of industries. 

Why did you choose to study this course at the RAU?

I live in Suffolk and my grandparents have a farm so every day I would always be up there messing around and seeing how it all worked! My father did a Land Management degree and is now has a real estate company specialising in commercial property. For me, coming from a two year agricultural course, I want to try and combine the two, farming and property, so it was a no brainer to make the choice to come here, especially considering its glowing reputation and the pathways it leads you onto.

Why did you chose to study this course at the RAU?​

Because I want to pursue a career in farming, mainly managing a commercial farm.

What is the best part about this course for you? 

The best part of it is that the lectures we get are not just theory-based lessons, but we go out on field trips to different farms and actually get to apply our knowledge. The course is designed to make you visualise yourself having your own farm to manage. This helps you understand what you have to know and the task at hand much better.

“I had a brilliant three years at Cirencester and will always have a lot to thank the RAU for - not only did I make great friends and get a well-credited degree, but I also had the help and support to come away with a brilliant job too!”

My RAU experience

Studying at the RAU provided me with a fantastic platform from which to expand both my knowledge base and industry network. The nature of the course with a balance of theory and practical case studies, alongside the opportunity to engage with international students already invested in rural development overseas, meant the MSc provided a diverse and rewarding learning environment.

With thanks to the skills I gained and contacts I made at the RAU, I am now working in an agronomy and technical support role.

My RAU experience

After leaving a career in professional services to work on my parents’ organic farm, I quickly realised I knew next to nothing about agriculture. The Graduate Diploma in Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University stood out because it covers a range of subject areas and has a managerial focus.

The RAU has given me the knowledge, ideas and confidence to take on my next challenge.

My RAU experience

I studied BSc (Hons) International Equine and Agricultural Business Management at the Royal Agricultural University and developed a keen interest in the management of ruralbased businesses; so much so that I decided to stay on to study for an MSc in Business Management.

My RAU experience

Following my undergraduate degree in equine science, I decided to pursue a Masters of Science by Research at the Royal Agricultural University. The RAU encouraged me to explore research ideas within my chosen area of study; equine stereotypy and neurology.

During my research degree, the underlying neural dopamine pathways which may contribute to equine stereotypy performance were explored. Thanks to the support and encouragement received from my supervisors, this work has since been published and presented at the Behaviour 2015 Conference.