Briarwood Products is helping to support the future of farming by offering informative tours of its impressive headquarters.

The company wants to invest in the next generation of farmers and has begun offering educational tours to agricultural students. Level 3 Agricultural students from Bridgwater and Taunton College were the first group to spend a morning at the company’s 21-acre site. The educational visit taught the students about how animal welfare can benefit from the use of fibre cement roofing, and ventilation systems, which allows fresh air flow within livestock buildings.

Somerset farmer Alan Janes established Briarwood Products over 40 years ago, which has grown to become a nationwide supplier to farmers and steel frame manufacturers. The family continue to run their beef farms locally as well as the growing company, and as farmers themselves they can relate to the challenges and opportunities for farmers today.

“Despite the uncertainty around what changes Brexit may bring, it is a very exciting time for farming, with a bright future ahead. Scientific and technological advances as well as education mean the farmers of the future will be running more productive and efficient farms than ever before” said Oliver Janes, company director.

Shane Plowright, course leader at Bridgwater and Taunton College, said: “Our trip to Briarwood Products gave the students an excellent insight into how the company operates".

Briarwood Products hopes this will be the first of many educational visits offered to agricultural students, as well as continuing to provide sponsorship for local student awards and agricultural building projects.