Hartpury University is welcoming 20 new members to its Tech Box Park SME Accelerator.

The SME Accelerator offers a range of scale-up support to SMEs from all over the UK, with services to help them connect, grow and scale into the agricultural industry.

Thanks to a special collaboration backed by the Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, these SMEs have fully funded virtual and associate memberships at Hartpury Tech Box Park.

Among these ambitious businesses are A Jar of Insights, Advantronix, AgriEnable, AgriMax, AgriDrone Services, Bio Natural Solutions, BioViron International Ltd, Carbon Magics Ltd, Dexdyne Ltd, Ento U.P Ltd, Equi-Pad by AJW Solutions Ltd, Forest Retrofit Ltd, JB Unmanned Aerial Systems (JBUAS), L4 Agriculture Ltd, MyOxygen Ltd, Smart Oasis Farm Ltd, Stonehealth Ltd, Stroud Brewery, The Wild Hare Group Ltd and VerFacil Ltd.

Hartpury University has identified and created a tailored support package for each SME, including business planning, mentoring, one-to-one advice, testing, bespoke events and networking. This prepares each company with a plan to grow their business within the UK agriculture market.

This new cohort of entrepreneurs and founders are currently undergoing bespoke business diagnostics and onboarding activities. Tech Box Park membership benefits will include testing and trialling at Hartpury's commercial farm, one-on-one coaching, mentoring and support from business experts and scale-up specialists - plus events and agriculture road trips dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation.

Over the next three months, the support programme aims to give a significant push to these businesses throughout the region and across the UK, while also nurturing the growth of Hartpury University and Hartpury College's vibrant agri-tech community.

Catherine Briggs, Tech Box Park manager at Hartpury University and Hartpury College, said: "We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to this diverse cohort of startups and scale-ups to our Tech Box Park community. With backing from the UK Government and Barclays Eagle Labs, we aim to inspire our new members to dream big into the world of agriculture, nurturing their business expansion and providing a path into the agricultural industry. It's an exciting journey ahead!"

Tech Box Park member Jonathan Brindley from JB Unmanned Aerial Systems (JBUAS) said: "Growing up around a farming community in rural Lincolnshire, I have seen first-hand how technology has become a facilitator for farming success. JBUAS aims to explore how the introduction of new drone geophysical sensor technology can provide practical solutions and deliver tangible value to farmers in their everyday operations. The Hartpury Tech Box Programme is clearly the enabler for JBUAS to achieve this aim - and we look forward to being a part of it."

Amanda Allan, director at Barclays Eagle Labs, said: "We think Hartpury University is an ideal partner for us. This match-funding will help them continue their proven track record in supporting local start-ups at the Tech Box Park."