We place a strong emphasis on entrepreneurialism, creating opportunities for our students to develop their own business ideas and receive tailored support.
From practical workshops, mentoring and awards, budding entrepreneurs can benefit from the knowledge and experience of their lecturers and the strong industry links the University has carefully cultivated over the years.
“Winner of Enterprise Learning Provider of the Year, Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs Awards 2019"
Our award-winning Enterprise Programme (EP) provides an inspiring and supportive environment in which our students can share, develop and launch their ideas. Guided by lawyers, insurers, accountants and PR & marketing professionals, students from all degree courses and years have the chance to realise their aspirations in a professional and rewarding environment.
As well as acting as a springboard for the business leaders of tomorrow, our celebrated programme has attracted the support of business leaders across the UK, enabling us to organise networking events, enterprise workshops, mentoring services and inspirational talks.
A transcript of this video can be found here.
Ignite Enterprise Programme at the RAU
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) Ignite Enterprise Programme, launched in the 2024/25 academic year. Designed in response to student feedback, this programme aims to inspire, nurture, and develop the entrepreneurial skills of our students. Open to all RAU students, it offers flexible, tailored support to help them thrive.
Inspire
Our programme features a range of events, competitions, and trips aimed at inspiring students to explore careers or start their own businesses. Highlights include alumni panels, talks from successful business owners, and idea competitions.
Nurture
Students will gain access to a blend of online learning covering essential start-up topics, along with personalised support from our dedicated Enterprise team and external business coaches. This combination ensures students receive the guidance they need to turn their entrepreneurial ambitions into reality.
Venture
Students can take part in our Cotswold Hills wine social enterprise project, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as sales, product development, and marketing. Participation builds valuable employability skills, including teamwork and communication. Additionally, profits from sales are reinvested into supporting student entrepreneurs and their ventures.
Additional support from the RAU Entrepreneurial Community
Situated in the grounds of the Royal Agricultural University, since 2018 The Alliston Centre has been the home of Farm491, the RAU’s technology and innovation space focused on the future of farming and food systems, and The Growth Hub Cirencester, part of the wider Growth Hub Gloucestershire network and a business hub focused on launching, growing and scaling businesses in the Cotswolds.
Farm491 proudly supports AgriTech, AgriFood and farming entrepreneurs in the UK and internationally in converting their ideas or technological solutions into viable and successful businesses.
While The Growth Hub Cirencester provides fully funded business support, including green consultancy, and free knowledge exchange events and workshops to pre-startups, startups, sole traders and small to medium size businesses in the Cotswolds, as well as offer co-working, meeting room and office hire.
RAU students receive free membership at Farm491 and The Growth Hub Cirencester to work on their businesses.
RAU alumni free membership at Farm491 and receive 25% discount on membership and all other paid services at The Growth Hub Cirencester for 12 months after graduation.
Join the Ignite Enterprise Programme to spark your entrepreneurial journey today!
Cotswold Hills Wine social enterprise project
Cotswold Hills is an award-winning social enterprise project established by the Royal Agricultural University in 2016 when we took on the tenancy of a 6-acre vineyard on the outskirts of Cirencester. The project aims to provide students with real life employability and enterprise skills and experience, as they are encouraged to get involved in all aspects of the project from vine to wine sales and new product development. In addition, a proportion of the proceeds from Cotswold Hills wine sales goes into the University’s enterprise fund which provides grants to students wanting to start their own businesses.
Cotswold Hills producing an award-winning range of still and sparkling wines in both bottled and canned form. You can find out more and purchase our wine via our website.
Cotswold Hills also has a strong innovation and sustainability ethos, and we encourage our students to research and apply new and emerging solutions. Examples of this include being one of the first UK vineyards to produce a canned wine in 2018, as well as being the first UK vineyard to use eco-plastic recycled and recyclable wine bottle which helped to reduced the carbon footprint. We have also removed the aluminium foil from our sparkling wine to reduce packaging waste.
Case study
Imogen Burgoyne, Founder Carrington Course & Pawpens
Imogen started two businesses whist at the RAU, the Carrington Course which is a three-day residential educational course, teaching school leavers basic fundamental life skills such as cookery, finance and household and car maintenance which isn't taught in schools. The second business is a private dog pen facility, equipped with agility equipment, training aids, benches and undercover areas set in three acres of beautiful grass and woodland where dog owners can take their dog off the lead without worrying.
Tips for students thinking of starting a business
The RAU has a wealth of knowledgeable and friendly experts/ resources to help entrepreneurs, whether their business is just starting out or more developed. Never feel embarrassed by a lack of knowledge in any field of business. If you are not overly confident with finances or marketing for example, chat to someone who is; become a sponge of knowledge! Speak out, get advice, and don't be scared to question your thoughts/ decisions because of other people's opinions.
“A large part of my decision to come to the RAU was based on the exceptional support for enterprise and entrepreneurship. I'm incredibly grateful to have studied at the RAU, and to be offered such valuable opportunities such as the Grand Idea Competition”
Imogen Burgoyne, Grand Idea Winner 2022
The Accolades
- IOEE Centre of Excellence 2019
- Enterprise Learning Provider of the Year, IOEE 2019
- Shortlisted Guardian University Awards 2018 "Enterprise and Employability"
- Shortlisted Rural Business Award 2018
- Shortlisted Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship 2017
- Runner up, The Guardian University Awards 2016 in the Entrepreneurship category
- Finalist NACUE Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 (National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs)
- Winner Cirencester Business Awards 2016 - Business Innovation of the Year
- Winner NUS Green Impact Scheme 2016 - in both the Innovation and Community Engagement categories
- Finalist Duke of York Award for University Entrepreneurship at the Lloyds Bank National Awards 2016
- Winner Green Gown Awards - Entrepreneurship and Employability category
Media featured in:
- BBC Radio Four Farming Today
- BBC Countryfile
- BBC Radio Gloucestershire
- National and local press