Coll Bell
Training and Workforce Development Manager
in Health and Social Care for Calderdale Council,
Coll Bell, attended Bradford College from 1979 to
1981, studying for his A Levels.
Whilst at College, Coll worked part-time, played
for his local football team, and as an active
member of his local church carried out youth
work. Coll started his professional life as Junior
Commercial Underwriter at a Lloyds Broker.
His passion for football followed him as did
his vocation for working with young people,
which developed a pathway into working with
disadvantaged young people and those at
those at risk.
Coll worked within the community setting
leading a team supporting young people
at the heights of the Bradford Riots. He has
been training Social Workers and other Care
practitioners for several years. A Training
Practitioner in Child Care, Child Protection
he now leads Workforce Development and
Learning in Health and Social Care for
Calderdale Council.
As Workforce Development Manager in the HR
function he is responsible for Learning Policy
and Strategy amongst his other duties. Coll is
passionate about learning.
“I am a Bradford lad, with humble roots. It was
whilst at College that I discovered my own
learning style, amidst the challenge or perhaps
the struggle of finding out what it meant to
be an independent learner, where lectures
provided in an environment where challenge,
and debate help to foster self awareness.
I am currently responsible for directing the
qualifications strategy for the workforce.
Qualifications are important. They demonstrate
achievement in learning, and the acquisition of
skills and knowledge, but also for practitioners
they confirm professional standing. Learning
never stops it is for life, qualifications are
not an end in themselves but can herald the
beginning of the search for knowledge and
broaden the mind, a stimulus for reflective
learning, to improve practice and gain better
understanding. They give confidence to the
people we support, a level of assurance that
they are in good hands.
Qualifications ought not to create a barrier of
superiority. For example working with young
people, at the end of the day you have to get
in someone’s face and say you care about
them. If you are truly trying to assist people
to make better choices in their lives it is about
empowering and supporting them, facilitating
their learning and helping them to unpack their
own potential.”
Photograph by Shelagh Ward