Shuttleworth College
Shuttleworth College is a specialist land-based further and higher education college in Bedfordshire, part of The Bedford College Group, serving school leavers, adult learners, and regional employers with agriculture, animal sciences, countryside management, horticulture, and equine programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBiggleswade, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shuttleworth College does
Shuttleworth College is a specialist land-based further and higher education college located in Old Warden, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire (SG18 9DX), operating as a wholly-owned campus of The Bedford College Group (registered as Bedford College). It delivers academic and vocational programs from entry level through to higher education across agriculture, animal sciences, countryside management, horticulture, equine care, and outdoor education, supported by distinctive facilities including Kingshill Farm (a working farm), the Zoological Education Centre, animal collections, working livery, and on-site halls of residence.
The college serves three primary customer segments: school leavers aged 16-18 transitioning from GCSEs into vocational and academic pathways; adult learners aged 19+ seeking upskilling, retraining, or higher education access; and regional employers seeking apprentices, T Level industry placements, and workforce development solutions via the Employer Partnership Scheme. Revenue is generated through a mix of tuition fees (tiered by learner age and course level), ESFA government funding, apprenticeship levy and co-investment, and bursary administration. The pricing model is subscription-style annual billing, with most 16-18 full-time courses government-funded at zero cost to learners and adult fees varying by eligibility for Advanced Learner Loans. The college's go-to-market combines centralised digital enrollment via the Bedford College Group website, printed prospectuses, GCSE advice days, open events, and direct employer engagement.
As part of The Bedford College Group — the largest post-16 education provider in the Bedfordshire and South East Midlands region — Shuttleworth benefits from cross-campus pathways, shared governance, and integration with the group's University Centre and other specialist colleges. The group operates campuses across Bedford, Biggleswade, Corby, Kettering, Silverstone, and Wellingborough, with the Bedford College entity (legal name) overseeing the consolidated structure. The college is not publicly traded and is governed by a Board of Governors.
Shuttleworth College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shuttleworth College
- Legal name
- Bedford College
- Website
- https://shuttleworth.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Shuttleworth College is a specialist land-based further and higher education college in Bedfordshire, part of The Bedford College Group, serving school leavers, adult learners, and regional employers with agriculture, animal sciences, countryside management, horticulture, and equine programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shuttleworth College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Further Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance (EDAOAOAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ), Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)
Keywords
Where Shuttleworth College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Biggleswade
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shuttleworth College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: Shuttleworth College generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to students for various courses, including full-time, part-time, and distance learning programs. Fee structures are published for different learner types and course levels.
- Government Funding (ESFA): The college receives funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for eligible students, particularly those aged 16-18 and adult learners meeting certain criteria. Funding agreements with government bodies constitute a significant revenue stream.
- Apprenticeship Funding: Revenue from apprenticeship programs where employers contribute through the apprenticeship levy or government incentives. The college facilitates apprenticeship recruitment and training for employers.
- Bursary and Financial Support: The college distributes bursary funds to eligible students (16-18 Bursary Policy, Adult Bursary Policy) which supports student access while maintaining relationships with funding bodies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 16-18 Full-time Courses |
| Subscription | Annual | Adult Part-time Courses |
| Subscription | Annual | Higher Education / University Level |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Apprenticeships |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shuttleworth College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shuttleworth College is a land-based further and higher education college offering full-time, part-time, apprenticeship, and university-level courses in agriculture, animal sciences, countryside management, horticulture, and equine care & management. Teaching is supported by specialised facilities including a working farm (Kingshill Farm), Zoological Education Centre, equestrian centre, and on-site halls of residence, with delivery also offered via distance learning and employer-based apprenticeship pathways.
Product overview
Shuttleworth College is a land-based further and higher education college within The Bedford College Group, located in Old Warden, Biggleswade. The college offers a comprehensive portfolio of land-based programs spanning agriculture, animal sciences, countryside management, horticulture, and equestrian studies. Key facilities include the Zoological Education Centre, animal care units, working livery, and student halls of residence. The college delivers academic programs from entry level through to higher education and professional qualifications, supported by specialized training facilities and partnerships with industry organizations such as Frontier Agriculture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Agriculture Programs Full-time and part-time agriculture courses covering crop genetics, agronomy, precision farming, and agricultural technology, delivered at Shuttleworth College's Kingshill Farm for students pursuing careers in agriculture.
- Animal Sciences Programs Courses in animal care, animal management, veterinary support, and animal nursing at various qualification levels, supported by the Zoological Education Centre and animal collections on campus.
- Countryside Management Programs Courses in countryside management, land and wildlife management, arboriculture, and forestry for students seeking careers in environmental and land-based sectors.
- Horticulture & RHS Programs Horticultural courses including RHS qualifications, garden design, and practical horticulture skills for students and gardening professionals.
- Equine Care & Management Programs Horse care, horse management, and equestrian studies programmes including working livery and loan packages, delivered at Shuttleworth College's equestrian facilities.
- Professional Short Courses Short-term professional development and vocational courses offered at Shuttleworth College for adult learners and industry professionals seeking flexible skill upgrades.
- Apprenticeships Apprenticeship programmes delivered in partnership with regional employers, providing work-based learning in land-based and vocational subjects with apprentices splitting time between workplace and college-based training.
- Distance Learning Courses Online and remote learning courses offered through The Bedford College Group's distance learning platforms, enabling adult learners across the region to study professional qualifications and skill development programmes remotely.
- University Level Courses Higher education and degree-level courses available through The Bedford College Group University Centre, with tuition fees published in the Fee Summary (2025-26) and Student Loans Company support for eligible students.
- Halls of Residence On-campus student accommodation at Shuttleworth College's Old Warden campus for students requiring overnight or residential facilities during their studies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Hat-trick of honours at Milton Keynes Education Awards 2026, with three colleagues recognised for outstanding contribution to education, inclusion and student success
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Shuttleworth College
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shuttleworth College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Shuttleworth College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Frontier AgricultureminorShuttleworth College hosted Frontier Agriculture's Open Day at Kingshill Farm, welcoming 62 farming customers to see developments in crop genetics, agronomy, and precision farming. This partnership provides students with exposure to commercial agriculture practices and industry innovations.
- BSI GroupcoreThe Bedford College Group maintains a partnership with BSI Group (British Standards Institution) through a dedicated enquiry page on the college website, indicating a relationship focused on standards, quality assurance, and professional development services for employers.
- Ark-H HandlingminorArk-H Handling participated in the launch of The Bedford College Group's Employer Partnership Scheme, joining over a dozen businesses in the initiative designed to strengthen connections between the college and local employers for apprenticeship recruitment and workforce development.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shuttleworth College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Plumpton College: Plumpton is a Sussex-based land-based further education college offering agriculture, animal management, horticulture and countryside management, a near-identical mix to Shuttleworth's curriculum.
- Myerscough College: Myerscough is a Lancashire land-based college and university centre specialising in agriculture, animal sciences, horticulture and sport, providing a directly comparable land-based FE/HE offering to Shuttleworth.
- Writtle University College: Writtle is an Essex-based specialist college offering agriculture, animal sciences, horticulture and equine programmes, directly overlapping with Shuttleworth's land-based portfolio and degree-level provision.
- Hartpury College: Hartpury is a land-based further and higher education college in Gloucestershire specialising in agriculture, animal sciences, equine and sport, making it a closely comparable peer to Shuttleworth's land-based curriculum.
- Moulton College: Moulton College in Northamptonshire is part of the same regional FE landscape as Shuttleworth and offers land-based subjects including agriculture and animal studies, making it a regional direct peer.
- Askham Bryan College: Askham Bryan is a Yorkshire land-based college offering agriculture, animal management, horticulture and countryside courses, providing a directly comparable land-based FE curriculum and apprenticeship offering.
- Tresham College: Tresham is a sister college within The Bedford College Group operating in Northamptonshire, offering further education and apprenticeship pathways that share infrastructure, governance and student services with Shuttleworth.
- Sparsholt College: Sparsholt College in Hampshire offers land-based programmes including agriculture, animal sciences, horticulture and countryside management, with a similar vocational further education model to Shuttleworth.
- Capel Manor College: Capel Manor is a London-based land-based college offering animal care, horticulture, countryside management and arboriculture, with significant overlap with Shuttleworth's countryside and animal sciences programmes.
Broad incumbents
- Royal Agricultural University: RAU is a Gloucestershire-based university offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in agriculture, land management and equine, representing a higher-tier, degree-granting competitor that overlaps with Shuttleworth's land-based subject areas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shuttleworth College social profiles
Digital presenceShuttleworth College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shuttleworth College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Shuttleworth College subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
Shuttleworth College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shuttleworth College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shuttleworth College
What does Shuttleworth College do?
Shuttleworth College is a land-based further and higher education college offering full-time, part-time, apprenticeship, and university-level courses in agriculture, animal sciences, countryside management, horticulture, and equine care & management. Teaching is supported by specialised facilities including a working farm (Kingshill Farm), Zoological Education Centre, equestrian centre, and on-site halls of residence, with delivery also offered via distance learning and employer-based apprenticeship pathways.
Is Shuttleworth College a public or private company?
Shuttleworth College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shuttleworth College founded?
Shuttleworth College was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Shuttleworth College based?
Shuttleworth College is headquartered in Biggleswade, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Shuttleworth College make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Funding (ESFA), apprenticeship Funding and bursary and Financial Support.
Who are Shuttleworth College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Plumpton College, Myerscough College, Writtle University College, Hartpury College, Moulton College, Askham Bryan College, Tresham College, Sparsholt College and Capel Manor College. Royal Agricultural University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Shuttleworth College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shuttleworth College.
What industry is Shuttleworth College in?
Shuttleworth College's product category is Further Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAOAN, Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance, with a secondary code of THAAAOAA, Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.