Top agricultural students are about to have their mettle tested in a competition described as a cross between The Apprentice and Dragons' Den.
Teams from some of the UK's top universities and agricultural colleges will compete in the first Smith & Williamson Grassroutes Business Challenge, backed by The Grocer.
"The business challenge will use scenarios based on real industry case studies and the 10 teams will have just six hours to find a solution," said Steve Ellwood, head of food and agriculture at accountancy and financial services group Smith & Williamson.
The judging panel , including senior executives from Kellogg's, Asda, Ginsters and Warburtons , will also act as mentors to the teams on the day.
"The competition will give students the chance to discover, build and test their commercial skills by grappling with real-life business scenarios, developing a practical strategy in a time-pressured environment and presenting that strategy to a group of senior business executives," added Ellwood. "If we can encourage a new generation of agri-food managers and one or two entrepreneurs, that will be job done ."
The event will take place at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester on 18 November, as part of its national Rural Enterprise Week. The winning team will take home the Grassroutes trophy.
Teams from some of the UK's top universities and agricultural colleges will compete in the first Smith & Williamson Grassroutes Business Challenge, backed by The Grocer.
"The business challenge will use scenarios based on real industry case studies and the 10 teams will have just six hours to find a solution," said Steve Ellwood, head of food and agriculture at accountancy and financial services group Smith & Williamson.
The judging panel , including senior executives from Kellogg's, Asda, Ginsters and Warburtons , will also act as mentors to the teams on the day.
"The competition will give students the chance to discover, build and test their commercial skills by grappling with real-life business scenarios, developing a practical strategy in a time-pressured environment and presenting that strategy to a group of senior business executives," added Ellwood. "If we can encourage a new generation of agri-food managers and one or two entrepreneurs, that will be job done ."
The event will take place at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester on 18 November, as part of its national Rural Enterprise Week. The winning team will take home the Grassroutes trophy.
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