At Agricultural Recruitment Specialists, we’re all about showcasing the people and projects shaping the future of farming. That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Paul Flynn—Farm Director at East Durham College’s Houghall Farm—onto AgriCulture Live.
Paul isn’t just running a farm. He’s leading a revolution in how we train, support and inspire the next generation of British farmers.
From Teaching Farm to Centre of Excellence
Set on a 476-acre estate just minutes from Durham city centre, Houghall Farm has become one of the North’s leading examples of sustainable, high-welfare, and education-focused agriculture. Under Paul’s leadership, supported by Farm Manager Keith Cook and livestock experts like Iain Whitfield and Leanne Chester, the farm has grown into a beacon of best practice across multiple enterprises—including beef, sheep, pigs, and arable.
The results speak for themselves.
Houghall’s clover-based grassland system and technical grazing platform have helped drive profitability and animal performance. The beef unit now runs over 150 head of Angus-cross cattle, finished to a high standard on home-grown cereals, beans, and grass. Meanwhile, the sheep enterprise—built around the Innovis breeding programme—recently hit an impressive lambing rate of 230%.
A Modern Approach to Pig Farming
But it’s the pig unit that’s turned heads across the UK. By investing in Hampshire-cross pigs and farrowing every three weeks, Houghall has created a practical, high-performing model that’s reshaping student perceptions of pig farming.
For many, pigs have long been a misunderstood part of the industry. Paul and the team are changing that. With a fully transparent, welfare-first approach, students don’t just “muck out”—they’re involved in feeding, farrowing, weaning and monitoring animal health. It’s intensive, yes, but it’s also compassionate, commercial and relevant.
Feeding is based on home-grown beans and barley, milled on site with expert input from Kingsgate Nutrition. Research with Teesside University has proven that the farm’s mix is performing on par with commercial feeds, and recent market results back that up: Houghall pigs recently achieved top price at Thirsk Market.
Real Experience. Real Business.
What makes Houghall’s approach so impressive is its balance. Students are involved in the day-to-day running of a working farm, but they’re also learning how to run a business.
Paul and the team have embedded tools like Agrovision and the Farm Business Survey into daily life at the college. Every crop, every animal unit is assessed for viability. Students get hands-on with business plans and learn the fundamentals of finance, risk management and long-term planning—skills they’ll need when it’s time to pitch to a bank or launch their own enterprise.
And with new research partnerships, including a link to Harper Adams’ School of Sustainable Food and Farming, the farm is also becoming a hub for sustainability innovation.
What’s Next for Houghall?
It’s a long list—Paul and his team aren’t slowing down anytime soon. Expansion into poultry production is on the cards, along with the continued development of sustainable feed systems and soil-first arable practices.
But more than anything, Houghall wants to change the conversation around farming.
They want to prove that agriculture can be ethical, high-tech, and aspirational. That young people—whether from farming backgrounds or not—can find meaningful, fulfilling careers in this industry. And they want to show that when you give students a real stake in the process, you create not just better workers, but better leaders.
Join the Conversation
We can’t wait to chat with Paul Flynn live and hear more about how Houghall is preparing students for the challenges—and opportunities—of modern farming.
Tune in to AgriCulture Live and discover how one farm in County Durham is reshaping the landscape for agricultural education in the UK.
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