His father spent his career working for the family business JCB, the British manufacturer of construction and farming equipment that was founded by his grandfather.
"[3] After Ampleforth College, he attended the University of Edinburgh, from which he graduated with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree.
After graduating from college, Bamford chose to pursue a career in finance in London instead of opting to join JCB.
The Bamford family backed Jo's decision to join New Star by becoming early investors in the asset management firm.
It was stated that Bamford had become "tired" of the media attention he was receiving in the UK at the time and that played a major part in his decision.
His first role was as a product specialist for the skid-steer loader at JCB’s North American headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.
According to Construction News, Bamford "broadened the appeal of the company’s utility product range to new industry sectors" while in the position.
[13][14] In 2012, Bamford took Harvey to court in a dispute about a personal loan when the two purchased property from aerospace company BAE Systems.
Bamford and the local media suggested MP Ian Paisley played a key part in securing the future of Wrightbus in Northern Ireland.
[28] In 2021, Bamford sued an ex-business partner Joseph Manheim in the U.S. in a dispute over control of a company that the two started together.
The business was designed help wealthy, foreign investors get residence in the U.S. in 2017 when Bamford “was strapped for cash following disagreements with his father” in 2017.
The court also noted that Bamford tried to structure the company to minimise his UK tax bill, saying, “Bamford was interested in holding his interest through an entity rather than personally, which he believed would help minimise his taxes in the United Kingdom.”[29] The court case, according to The Guardian, provided the public "an extraordinary insight into a world of extreme wealth and privilege within one of Britain’s most prominent industrial families.
[32] Bamford's HydraB and Armstrong Capital Management entered into a joint venture in September 2022 and formed Hygen Energy.
The joint venture aim is to build, fund and management hydrogen production facilities in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
[34] The parent company of British Gas, Centrica, announced in late 2022 that it would be entering into a joint venture with Ryze Hydrogen.
[37][38] In February 2024, Bamford's investment arm Hycap opened offices in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where it would also setup a hydrogen-focus complex in the region.
[43] The Bamford family is one of the biggest political financial backers behind former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.