Big Pitch

The Big Pitch is Anglia Ruskin University’s annual business ideas competition exclusively for undergraduate and postgraduate students, from any faculty or core campus. The competition has been running for 12 years – during this time Anglia Ruskin University has supported its enterprising and entrepreneurial students across the university; equipping them with an entrepreneurial mindset so that they can become a positive force for change, and transform lives, industries, and communities. This year, 56 business ideas were submitted by 69 students, who took part either as an individual or in a team.

Winner: Exelerex

Project:

Asima Rafique, BSc (Hons) Medical Science; Enrico Iraldo, BSc (Hons) Medical Science and Joseph Ashton, MEng Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering – £3,000 Engineers in Business Prize

Exelerex designs modular safety systems for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) with the purpose of decreasing the likelihood of road traffic accidents. The Truck Safety System (TSS) is modular in nature, and each component is designed to acquire different types of data for different purposes; its modularity enables customers to choose, according to their unique needs, what components of the TSS they wish to purchase. Furthermore, not only can the TSS be integrated into modern HGVs, but it can also be retrofitted into older vehicles.

SMF James Gardiner, Managing Director at Natural Resources (2000), presented the Engineers in Business Prize to Asima Rafique, Enrico Iraldo and Joseph Ashton.

Awarded: £3,000

Positive feedback

Our Big Pitch competition helps students with bright business ideas to turn them into reality. The Engineers in Business award endorses that and gives our engineering students an extra boost to appreciate the value and importance of their engineering skills and combining them with business ensures they are prepared for the growing technological business revolution.

Marcia Baldry-Bryan
Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Support Manager
Anglia Ruskin University