Coleg Glynllifon Celebrates 70 years
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s agricultural and land-based campus is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
Celebrations were held last week (Thursday, June 20th) at Coleg Glynllifon’s annual Prize Day Ceremony, where learners were presented with certificates and awards for their achievements over the past academic year.
Over 500 were in attendance, where learners, their families, and staff came together to mark the tremendous anniversary.
Since its opening on May 22nd 1954, Coleg Glynllifon has been at the forefront of agricultural education, shaping the futures of countless learners who have gone on to make a positive impact in their communities across north Wales and beyond.
Gwenllian Roberts, Executive Director of Commercial Development, explained,
“This landmark anniversary marks seven decades of excellence in land-based education and innovation. This year’s cohort are part of a proud legacy, joining the class of 2024 in following in the footsteps of generations who have contributed to this important sector's growth and sustainability.
“We are immensely proud of our curriculum, which not only incorporates the best of existing practices but also provides opportunities for students to learn new and innovative techniques”
“As Grŵp Llandrillo Menai looks to the future, it remains committed to transferring knowledge to students and the industry, developing skills, and promoting economic growth. The celebration of this 70th anniversary is not just a reflection on the past but a step forward in continuing to drive innovation and excellence in Land-based education. We’re very proud to be positioned to help meet the challenges and significant opportunities the rural economy have”
The Glynllifon farm extends to 300 hectares, demonstrating high quality production of beef, lamb, pork and dairy. The campus also has an animal studies centre, engineering centre, forest and sawmill.
Coleg Glynllifon has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with a 26% increase in student numbers over the last three years. This year has also set a new record for enrolment and the competition rates of Coleg Glynllifon learners surpass the national average.
Innovation remains a cornerstone of Glynllifon’s mission. The college continues its partnership with Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC Cymru), specialising in automation and robotics.
This collaboration allows Coleg Glynllifon to trial and demonstrate new agricultural technologies, enhancing capabilities in engineering, precision agriculture, and forestry. A notable example is the Agbot, a state-of-the-art autonomous tractor currently being tested at the college.
Martin Jardine, Director of Agri Food at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, said,
“This year is a momentous one for Coleg Glynllifon as we celebrate seventy years of further education delivery at the college. We have learners here today that are following in the footsteps of their parents, with successive generations of families having studied here.
“Many of the traditional land based skills are still being delivered - but alongside more modern methods, using electric vehicles and autonomous tractors - something that would have been unthinkable 70 years ago!
“We’d also like to pay our special gratitude to OBR Construction - the main sponsor of this year’s prize day and 70th Anniversary celebrations”
Director of OBR Construction, Rhys Jones, said,
“As a company that values skills, training and local employment, we’re very pleased to have been able to support this significant celebration. It was great to see the hard work of so many young people being recognised and we wish all the learners well in the next steps of their careers. Well done everyone!”
Limited places are still available on some courses at Coleg Glynllifon for September 2024 entry. Click here to find out more about the campus and the courses on offer.
