Jeremy Clarkson’s hit Amazon Prime collection Clarkson’s Farm is fuelling a surge in purposes to agricultural schools throughout the UK, with youngsters citing the present as their first introduction to careers in land administration and farming.
Whereas Clarkson is the star of the programme, admissions officers say the actual inspiration for a lot of candidates has been Charlie Eire — the land agent and agronomist nicknamed “Cheerful Charlie”, who has turn into an unlikely ambassador for rural land administration.
The Royal Agricultural College (RAU) reported an 11 per cent enhance in purposes for its three-year rural land administration BSc course in contrast with final yr, with the model of the diploma that features a farm placement up 18 per cent. Purposes for its two-year rural land administration basis diploma rose by 14 per cent, whereas curiosity in its three-year agriculture programs climbed 4 per cent, and agricultural programs with farm placements grew 8 per cent.
Miles, an RAU spokesperson, mentioned: “It’s wanting like programmes like Clarkson’s Farm are having an impact. The curiosity goes past ‘I can do farming’ – there’s additionally rising enthusiasm for the vary {of professional} roles concerned in making farms succeed.”
At Harper Adams College, which runs its personal 550-hectare working farm, employees have seen a “ripple impact” at open days. Lecturer Andrew Black mentioned Charlie Eire’s function on the present had sparked curiosity amongst potential college students, whereas vice-chancellor Ken Sloan mentioned the programme highlighted the combination of expertise trendy farming requires, from robotics and automation to land and property administration.
“The power of reveals like that is how they present the breadth of expertise wanted, even for celebrities or cleaning soap stars, to make a farm work,” Sloan mentioned. “That’s translating right into a broader vary of scholars exploring agri-food as a profession.”
Plumpton School in East Sussex, which has doubled its pupil numbers over the previous decade, has additionally acknowledged the “Jeremy impact”. Principal Jeremy Kerswell famous that whereas Clarkson’s Farm had raised consciousness, progress in pupil curiosity was additionally the results of years of robust academic follow throughout the sector.
The present has additionally opened doorways for non-farming entrants by initiatives like Kaleb Cooper’s bursary at RAU. The tractor driver turned farm supervisor launched the scheme in 2023 to assist college students with out agricultural backgrounds. Profitable candidates obtain a £3,000 grant and the chance to use for a piece placement with Cooper or his companions.
Two bursaries are at the moment awarded yearly, one funded by Cooper and the opposite by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Belief, with discussions underway to develop the scheme.
Rupert Jones, 20, from Bournemouth, who acquired a bursary final yr, mentioned the present gave him confidence to pursue farming.
“For lots of people from non-farming backgrounds, Clarkson’s Farm offered it in a method they hadn’t thought-about. Seeing the challenges instantly from Clarkson himself made me excited concerning the business. It may be daunting should you don’t come from farming, however the bursary gave me confidence.”
With purposes climbing and extra younger individuals impressed by what they see on display, schools say Clarkson’s Farm has given British agriculture a much-needed public relations increase — and a pipeline of future farmers and land managers.
