Harper Adams University - Prospectus 2024

ZoeHarrison Butterbelle founder and former food student Zoe Harrison’s success in devising , developing , launching and growing her own business has been so impressive that she has returned to the University as a guest lecturer and “entrepreneur in residence”. Butterbelle began in Zoe’s home, where she would make nut butter for her friends, experimenting with carefully chosen natural ingredients. At Harper, Zoe perfected the recipes and began supplying local shops while also completing her placement year working for the Catering Department. To ensure she could juggle the rest of her degree with the fledging business, Zoe made Butterbelle the basis of her final year project. She was soon working around the clock crushing nuts, travelling throughout the country promoting and selling her products and winning awards: taking the top spot at the Rural Business Awards in the Best Rural Food and Drink Business category and being voted runner up in the Observer Food Monthly Awards’ Ethical Food category in 2019. Zoe now assists in teaching a range of entrepreneurship and businessmodules across food technology and business degrees, to share her wealth of industry knowledge. “It feels like I’mback home,” she says. harper.ac.uk/zoebell Ellie Jones Nora’s Gluten Free Bakery was started by Ellie Jones after she was diagnosed with coeliac disease and decided to help people who have an intolerance to gluten enjoy their favourite foods again. Agri-Food Marketing with Business graduate Ellie, combined her placement year with a South-Staffordshire Vineyard with starting her own business that she promotes and advertises solely throughout social media and word of mouth. Not only has Nora’s Gluten Free Baking changed people’s perception of gluten free food, but its been a huge success as Ellie is constantly busy fulfilling orders for cafes, tearooms and the wider public while juggling her graduate job. “I have had to develop a few recipes for myself- and then I had combined those with my baking. It is going quite well – I do have to get up early some days to make sure I get stuff done and it can be intense sometimes but I’m loving it." “The people youmeet, the information you gain, and the life experience are all going to be vital in your life post university.” Kiron Phillips , HAU graduate and vodka entrepreneur. harper.ac.uk/rkvod ur own boss HARPER.AC.UK | 93