SRUC students shine at national Pinnacle Awards finals
Two students from SRUC have been recognised at this year’s prestigious Pinnacle Awards finals in London, with one securing third place in the national competition.
Agriculture student Erin McGuire achieved the Bronze Award and received £600 after presenting proposed business and sustainability improvements for an Aberdeenshire farm she visited as part of a third-year Agriculture model. Fellow SRUC student Gemma Ambrose was also selected as one of the eight finalists in the highly competitive awards programme.
The Pinnacle Awards, hosted at The Farmers Club in London, bring together some of the UK’s most promising agriculture students to demonstrate their farm business consultancy and problem-solving skills before a panel of leading academics and industry consultants.
Judges praised the exceptionally high standard pf all finalists this year.
As finalists, both students received a year’s free membership to The Framers Club.
SRUC last won the competition in 2014, making this year’s success another significant achievement for the institution.
Neil MacKintosh, Lecturer in Rural Business Management at SRUC said: “The Pinnacle Award is a national competition that gives agriculture students a fantastic experience and opportunity to demonstrate their business consultancy skills to some of the leading academics and consultants from around the UK. All the Agriculture and Rural Business Management teaching team at Craibstone, and across SRUC, are very proud of Erin and Gemma’s achievements at the finals in The Farmers Club, London. They and all the other finalists showed that the UK’s agricultural students can develop the kinds of business solutions we need for a sustainable future in agriculture.”
Of her win Erin McGuire said: “It has been an honour to take part in the Pinnacle Awards at The Farmers Club in London. It has been an incredibly valuable experience and a fantastic opportunity to apply and develop the farm business consultancy skills I have gained during my studies at SRUC Aberdeen. Receiving the Bronze Award is something I am very proud of, and it was incredible to meet so many inspiring professionals from across the agricultural industry.”
Gemma Ambrose said: “It was an honour to have been selected to attend the Pinnacle Awards at The Farmers Club in London. I don’t come from much of a farming background, so being named a finalist was a huge confidence boost. It was a great experience to discuss my business development with industry specialists, as well as listen to the impressive presentations made by the other finalists. Overall, it was an incredibly valuable experience that has strengthened both my business skills and confidence which will I will carry with me into my career.”
Anyone interested in studying Agriculture can find more information in the course catalogue.
Posted by SRUC on 22/05/2026
