The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 42: April/May 2019 | Page 14

WOMEN
IN BUSINESS
IN
PROFILE
Ali’s Background:
DR ALI HADAVIZADEH
Dr Ali Hadavizadeh is one of the judges for
this year’s Techies Awards - a Business
Exchange initiative to celebrate the
innovation and entrepreneurship of the IT
community in Swindon & Wiltshire.
With a colourful career spanning
agriculture, food processing and
technology, Dr Hadavizadeh brings with
him a wealth of experience covering
business, mentoring, academia and more.
Ali, a University of Bath graduate, moved
to Wiltshire in 1978 and has seen the
region flourish to become the thriving
tech-hub it is today.
He spoke to The Business Exchange about
his background, his role as a Techies
Judge and what the future holds for the
region.
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My first degree was in horticulture and I went back to
university in 1986 to study for my PhD in seed technology.
That was my first venture into technology and set me out on
my career path.
There were challenges in food production that could
be addressed through deployment of the latest scientific
R&D breakthroughs creating novel technologies. I became
the modern ‘pea expert’ and in my first job I became High
Scientific Officer at John Innes Centre, a scientific research
facility based in Norfolk.
Following this I was approached by Brinkman Horticulture
Services UK as they wanted someone to provide expertise
regarding revolutionary technology in the agriculture sector
which provided alternatives to pesticides using natural
parasites or predators. After years of research by companies
in this sector there is now a huge innovation drive to find
integrated pest management solutions to mitigate the use of
pesticides.
After this role I became a Crop Technologist for a
company supplying fruit and vegetables year-round to major
supermarkets throughout the UK. I was the legume specialist
and, in this role, helped to set up farms and co-operatives in
Guatemala to meet UK demand out of season.
As a result of my work in Guatemala I ended up being
encouraged to set up my own business specialising in import,
processing, packing and distribution of pistachio nuts.
HAPICO Ltd based in Melksham and operated for 16 years
and imported over 1,000 tonnes of pistachios per year and at
the height of its operation we captured 25% of UK market and
we supplied wholesalers and supermarkets.
Having sold HAPICO in 2008, and with no intention
of retiring, I set up a business support consultancy. I’m
fascinated by businesses and want to understand what
makes them tick. I approached the University of Bath
Innovation Centre and offered my services as an advisor.
A year later I was appointed as the Deputy Head of
Enterprise and Innovation Centre for the university, working
with graduates, post graduates and staff as well as High
Tech, High Growth start-ups and SMEs from community
and helped them to develop a sound business case around
their ideas, inventions and scientific breakthroughs and
enabled them to realise their entrepreneurial aspirations
and set them on the path of creating jobs and wealth at local,
national and international levels.
After doing this for five and a half years I decided to use
these skills and apply them to my love of agriculture. I went
to Cirencester Agricultural University and took up a role
as Program Manager at Farm 491, a brand new Agri-Tech
incubator developing new solutions for the industry.
My current business, Acorn Biz Solutions, combines my
30 years’ experience under one roof. I deliver workshops
in everything to do with running a robust, efficient and
sustainable business for companies and help them to
consider options for doing things better where possible. One
key area of my business specialisation is helping start-ups
and SMEs to get investor ready.
Judging the Techies:
Last years’ experience was amazing. Until you get involved
with something like this you don’t realise how much is
happening in the area in terms of innovation and technology.
I find the awards fascinating as they showcase the range
of talent and the depth and breadth of creativity across the
region. Innovation in Wiltshire and Swindon is amazing.
Sometimes Bath and Bristol steal the glory but we can more
than match it.
As a judge I’m very keen to see a strong team that can
deliver and articulate the proposition and understand what
it is that makes them stand out. Where is the business
emphasis? Where do they excel? Is it usability or customer
experience? For me the most successful businesses are
customer-centric in their approach and the proof is looking at
their track record and customer base.
I’m keen to see businesses with aspirations for world
domination and I inherently like to see technologies that
make a difference with practical applications.
For me a successful entrepreneur is a person who
doesn’t accept the status quo and challenges the norm.
In some ways it’s like developing new strains of crops: you
challenge the norm and create the right conditions to develop
something much better.
Wiltshire and Swindon 2019
and Beyond:
As a nation we need the tools to become more self-reliant
both in the farming and tech sectors. We need to invest in
R&D to maintain our position as world leaders. This should
be a shared goal for the Wiltshire Business Community. It
should be a shared vision and we need to be able to support
the next generation through financial support, technological
innovation and mentoring.
For more info:
www.acornbizsolutions.co.uK
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