Aberystwyth Student Success at National Pinnacle Awards

Two Agriculture students from Aberystwyth University recently reached the national final of the prestigious Pinnacle Awards, an annual competition that celebrates excellence in farm business planning across UK universities.

Final-year students Gweno Jarman and Ben James were shortlisted from entries submitted by agricultural departments across the UK. Their business plans were originally developed as part of the Farm Planning and Advanced Farm Management module, which challenges students to apply their learning to real-world farming scenarios.

As finalists, both students travelled to The Farmers Club in London to present their ideas. The day began with one-to-one interviews with a panel of expert judges, followed by a formal presentation in front of an audience of agricultural professionals, academics, and fellow students. Each finalist was given ten minutes to present their plan, followed by a five-minute Q&A session.

The panel included industry leaders from ADAS, Queen’s University Belfast and The Farmers Club, who offered constructive feedback and valuable insight. It was an intense but rewarding experience that tested the finalists’ confidence, communication, and critical thinking skills.

Gweno noted “The whole experience was incredibly valuable. It was a brilliant opportunity to meet successful people in the agricultural industry and a fantastic chance to network. I'm really grateful to my lecturer Anthony O’Regan for his guidance, and to the Department of Life Sciences for giving me the opportunity to take part.”

In the evening, guests heard from keynote speaker Claire Taylor, founder of Agvocacy Consulting, who gave an inspiring talk about her work in agricultural storytelling around the globe. The event concluded with an awards ceremony, where Ben was awarded second place and Gweno receiving high commendation.

Reflecting on his success, Ben said “I’m grateful for the strong foundation that Aberystwyth’s Agriculture course has given me by combining academic rigour with practical application and real-world insight. The course is supported by world-leading facilities, including the university’s farms and research centres, which provide hands-on experience that brings the classroom to life. I’ve also been lucky to learn from passionate, knowledgeable lecturers who not only teach, but also have real experience in the industry.”

Learn more about our Agriculture courses here.