JB Gill cuts ribbon on state-of-the-art teaching farm at BCA College

TV presenter, farmer and musician JB Gill officially opened Top Farm today (Tuesday), cutting the ribbon on a major new agricultural teaching facility at BCA College.

The launch marked a significant investment in the future of British farming and land-based education, bringing together students, staff, industry partners and local stakeholders to celebrate the development.

Top Farm provides a permanent home for agriculture at BCA College, part of the Windsor Forest Colleges Group.

The site features modern facilities, up-to-date machinery and livestock, providing students the opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience as part of their studies.

Speaking at the event, JB Gill, a member of pop group JLS and a former Strictly Come Dancing finalist, praised the opportunities the new farm will offer young people entering the industry.

“What a fantastic facility for students to have at their disposal,” he said.

“I wish I’d had something like this when I first got into farming. The opportunities this creates for young people entering the industry are incredible.”

Chris Beckwith, Livestock Manager at BCA, also addressed guests and reflected on the college’s long-standing agricultural heritage and the importance of giving agriculture a permanent home once again.

“BCA was founded in 1949 in response to the need for food security, and agriculture has always been part of its DNA,” he said.

“What we see here today is agriculture firmly back where it belongs, with a home, a future and growing ambition.”

Agriculture courses at BCA were withdrawn in the late 1990s, but the subject was reintroduced in 2014 with just 16 students and limited facilities.

Today, around 60 learners study agriculture at the college across a range of levels, supported by close collaboration between teaching staff, farm teams and industry partners.

The opening of Top Farm represents a major step forward for the college, and reinforces its role in supporting sustainable agriculture, skills development and the future rural workforce.

Gillian May, CEO and Principal of BCA College, said the opening marked the culmination of a long journey to rebuild agricultural education at the institution.

“In 2001, the Foot and Mouth outbreak meant the UK lost around six million cattle, and we were faced with the heartbreaking decision to stop our farming provision,” she said.

“In 2014, with the support of our farming community, we began rebuilding.

“Now, 25 years later, we are incredibly proud to have rebuilt this tremendous facility.

“Since reintroducing agriculture, more than 250 students have graduated from BCA and gone on to careers across the sector.”

For more information, visit bca.ac.uk