Hartpury University and Hartpury College continue to demonstrate their commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among their students, providing them with further opportunities to develop their business ideas at this year’s Dragons’ Den-style event.
Students from across Hartpury showcased their creativity, passion, and business acumen to a panel of expert judges including John Lannon (Senior Lecturer in Business Management at Hartpury University), Sam Holiday (Federation of Small Businesses), Sophie Clark (Cavago), Dawn Oliver (Lodders), and Georgia Adderley (Add Management).
The event highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of Hartpury students, with six of them receiving funding from the Hartpury Enterprise Fund to support their innovative business ventures:
- Harvey McNamara (A-levels) impressed the Dragons with his business, Blindside Box, and was awarded £500 to diversify his stock and explore the vintage sports shirt market.
- Tom Paget (A-levels) showcased his clothing business Levuroy with professionalism and maturity, earning £500 to develop new product lines and enhance his marketing efforts in areas such as product photography.
- Alicia Padfield (BSc (Hons) Human-Animal Interaction with Psychology) presented her secure dog walking facility, Monty’s Meadow, and received £1000 to develop a shelter for dog owners.
- Cana Bamin (BA (Hons) Sports Business Management) demonstrated his passion for his rugby training aid, BAMBALL, and was awarded £1000 to work on his prototype and seek a patent.
- James Fallon (BA (Hons) Sports Business Management) showcased his clothing range, Rugby Wardrobe, and received £500 to refine his product range and purchase additional stock.
- Mathilda Edmund (MSc Equitation Science) presented her concussion monitoring business idea, Equi-Head, and was awarded £500 to further her research and product development.
Sarah Lee, Head of Innovation, Careers and Enterprise at Hartpury University and College said: “The creativity and professionalism displayed by our students was truly inspiring. Events like this showcase the incredible entrepreneurial talent at Hartpury and provide students with the support they need to succeed. A special thank you must go to our Dragons who, through their organisations, partner with Hartpury on a range of collaborative activities. Their involvement with this initiative is so valuable to the students, who can take advantage of their expertise, business acumen, and mentorship.”
The Dragons’ Den event is just one example of how Hartpury University and Hartpury College provides students with access to industry expertise, funding, and mentorship to turn their ideas into reality.
Hartpury’s unique campus, combining college and university facilities, offers students access to world-class resources, including cutting-edge sports equipment, equine therapy centres, and agri-tech innovation hubs. With a proven track record of academic excellence and graduate employability, Hartpury is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers in their chosen fields.
