Black Mountains College
Black Mountains College is a Wales-based registered charity delivering sustainability-focused higher, further, and short courses in agroecology, regenerative horticulture, forestry, and climate adaptation, serving individual students across two campuses within Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBrecon, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Black Mountains College does
Black Mountains College is a UK registered charity (Charity Number: 1180681) operating as a small specialist further and higher education institution in Wales. It delivers a portfolio of three educational products: a BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change degree (validated by Cardiff Metropolitan University), Further Education vocational courses in agroecology, regenerative horticulture, forestry and arboriculture, nature restoration and land-based studies, and short courses/workshops covering composting, tree planting, regenerative growing and climate adaptation. Its student base spans prospective undergraduates, vocational learners, and community/lifelong learners seeking sustainability-focused education.
The college operates across two campuses — its main base at Ennig Offices, Talgarth, with Troed-yr-Harn upland hill farm as the primary land-based learning site, and a second learning hub in Treherbert (Rhondda Valleys) established in 2023 through a partnership with Welcome to Our Woods — both within or adjacent to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. There is no proprietary technology platform; the value proposition rests on small class sizes, hands-on learning in real landscapes, and alignment with the Welsh Well-being of Future Generations Act.
The business model combines tuition fees with significant charitable funding. Revenue streams are tuition from higher and further education enrolments alongside grants from charitable funders, with The National Lottery Community Fund identified as a major funder. Marketing is community-led and event-driven, relying on Discovery Days, Open Days, Talgarth Talks, social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Facebook), email newsletter, and student testimonials. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The college distributes directly through its website and via its Cardiff Met validation partnership, and maintains a broad strategic alliance network including Welsh Rewilding Alliance, Climate Cymru, Brecon Beacons National Park, Natural Resources Wales, the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, NPTC Group of Colleges, the Eden Project, the College for Real Farming, and Hay/Brecon/Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees.
Black Mountains College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Mountains College
- Legal name
- Black Mountains College Project Ltd.
- Website
- https://blackmountainscollege.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Black Mountains College is a Wales-based registered charity delivering sustainability-focused higher, further, and short courses in agroecology, regenerative horticulture, forestry, and climate adaptation, serving individual students across two campuses within Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Mountains College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education and Sustainability Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)
Keywords
Where Black Mountains College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brecon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Black Mountains College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: As a Further and Higher Education institution, Black Mountains College likely generates revenue through student tuition, though specific fee structures are not publicly disclosed on the website.
- Charitable Funding and Grants: The college operates as a registered charity (Charity Number: 1180681) and receives funding from The National Lottery Community Fund and other charitable organisations. This constitutes significant non-revenue funding for operations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
Black Mountains College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Mountains College is a Further and Higher Education institution delivering a BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change degree, vocational Further Education courses (Agroecology, Regenerative Horticulture, Forestry & Arboriculture, Nature Restoration, Land-Based Studies), and Short Courses & Workshops on composting, tree planting, regenerative growing, and climate adaptation. Education is delivered through campuses in Talgarth and Treherbert using the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park as a living classroom.
Product overview
Black Mountains College is an educational institution offering a unified portfolio of vocational and higher education programmes centred on sustainability and ecological restoration. The offering consists of a BA (Hons) degree in Sustainable Futures at the higher education level, Further Education courses (including Agroecology, Regenerative Horticulture, Forestry & Arboriculture, Nature Restoration, and Land-Based Studies), and Short Courses & Workshops for community learning. The college operates across campuses in Talgarth and Treherbert, with its main base at Troed-yr-Harn farm, using the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park landscape as a living classroom.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change A multi-disciplinary undergraduate degree programme that develops critical transferable skills to implement real-world change and pioneer more sustainable futures. Validated by Cardiff Metropolitan University and delivered using the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park as a living classroom. Targeted at students seeking higher education in sustainability, ecological systems, and climate action. Applications are open for 2026.
- Further Education Courses
- Short Courses & Workshops
Companies that use Black Mountains College
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black Mountains College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Black Mountains College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- Welsh Rewilding AlliancecorePartnership with Welsh Rewilding Alliance aligns with the college's focus on ecological restoration and nature-based learning within the National Park.
- Climate CymrucorePartnership with Climate Cymru connects the college to broader Welsh climate action networks and initiatives.
- Cardiff Metropolitan UniversitycoreUniversity partner that validates and awards the BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures degree, providing academic accreditation and pathway to higher education qualifications.
- NPTC Group of CollegessecondaryFurther education college partnership providing additional vocational course pathways and educational resources.
- The Eden ProjectsecondaryPartnership with the renowned visitor attraction and educational organisation focused on global and local ecological awareness.
- Hay, Brecon & Talgarth Sanctuary for RefugeessecondaryCommunity partnership supporting refugee integration through education and skills training.
- Welcome to Our WoodscorePartnership established in 2023 to create a learning hub in Treherbert, Rhondda Valleys. This partnership enabled the establishment of the second campus location.
- Natural Resources WalessecondaryGovernment body partnership supporting environmental and natural resource management education.
- Brecon Beacons National ParkcoreNational Park partnership providing the primary campus setting and living classroom for land-based education.
- The Hay FestivalminorLiterary festival partnership for cultural events and visibility in the regional community.
- Abergavenny Food FestivalminorFood festival partnership connecting to local food systems and sustainable agriculture education.
- College for Real Farming of the Real Farming TrustsecondaryPartnership with real farming education network supporting agroecology curriculum development.
- Talgarth Mill and The Bakers' TableminorLocal community partnership for practical skills training and community engagement.
- The Water Filter ManminorLocal specialist partnership for practical training in sustainable water practices.
- Griffiths Civil Engineering and ConstructionminorConstruction partner potentially supporting campus development and building projects.
- Office of the Future Generations CommissionersecondaryWelsh government office partnership aligning with the Well-being of Future Generations Act that guides the college's educational model.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Mountains College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eden Project: Cornwall-based educational and visitor attraction dedicated to regenerative futures and ecological literacy. Similar experiential, mission-driven educational approach and a listed BMC strategic partner.
- Plumpton College: UK FE college delivering land-based, agriculture and environmental vocational training with strong further-education focus. Mirrors BMC's FE land-based product mix and target learner.
- Sparsholt College: UK Further Education college offering land-based and environmental vocational courses (Forestry, Horticulture, Countryside Management). Directly comparable to BMC's Further Education land-based programme portfolio.
- Hartpury University: UK land-based university offering agriculture, animal and environmental degrees with practical on-site learning. Similar applied/rural higher education positioning to BMC's BA and FE land-based tracks.
- Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT): A Wales-based sustainability education charity delivering practical, land-based learning in Powys. Closest analogue to BMC in mission, geography, and pedagogical model (hands-on, ecology-focused education).
- Schumacher College (Dartington Trust): UK small-scale, mission-driven higher education rooted in ecological and transformative learning. The closest historical peer to BMC in ethos (small cohorts, sustainability/ecological pedagogy, rural residential model).
- Royal Agricultural University: UK specialist university offering land-based, agriculture and sustainability higher education with a small cohort, rural-cirencester setting. Comparable in targeting applied land-based learning and a tight student body.
Emerging players
- Field Studies Council: UK charity delivering outdoor, environmental and ecology field-based learning courses and schools programmes. Overlaps with BMC's short-course, field-based learning model at a different learner level.
- Real Farming Trust (College for Real Farming): UK agroecology and food sovereignty education network delivering training linked to BMC's agroecology curriculum. Direct thematic overlap and listed BMC partner.
Broad incumbents
- University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Wales's larger university operating sustainability, countryside and environmental programmes at scale. Overlaps with BMC on subject matter but as a broad multi-faculty incumbent rather than specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Mountains College social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Mountains College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Black Mountains College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Mountains College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Black Mountains College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Mountains 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 Black Mountains College
What does Black Mountains College do?
Black Mountains College is a Further and Higher Education institution delivering a BA (Hons) Sustainable Futures: Arts, Ecology and Systems Change degree, vocational Further Education courses (Agroecology, Regenerative Horticulture, Forestry & Arboriculture, Nature Restoration, Land-Based Studies), and Short Courses & Workshops on composting, tree planting, regenerative growing, and climate adaptation. Education is delivered through campuses in Talgarth and Treherbert using the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park as a living classroom.
Is Black Mountains College a public or private company?
Black Mountains College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Mountains College founded?
Black Mountains College was founded in -1.
Where is Black Mountains College based?
Black Mountains College is headquartered in Brecon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Black Mountains College make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are charitable Funding and Grants.
Who are Black Mountains College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eden Project, Plumpton College, Sparsholt College, Hartpury University, Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Schumacher College (Dartington Trust) and Royal Agricultural University. Emerging players are Field Studies Council and Real Farming Trust (College for Real Farming). University of Wales Trinity Saint David is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Black Mountains College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Mountains College.
What industry is Black Mountains College in?
Black Mountains College's product category is Higher Education and Sustainability Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAA, Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning). Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.