Celebrating 70 Years of Bell: An Interview with CEO Roy O’Shaughnessy
Celebrating 70 Years of Bell: An Interview with CEO Roy O’Shaughnessy
Recently, our CEO, Roy O’Shaughnessy, had an inspiring chat with StudyTravel magazine, where he talked about Bell’s history, our upcoming 70th anniversary in 2025, our mission, and what’s on the horizon for us. We thought you’d love to hear all about it!
Meet Roy O’Shaughnessy
Roy joined Bell as our CEO earlier this year with a deep passion for making a positive difference in the world. Roy’s upbringing across different continents had a strong influence on his values. “I was born in the UK but grew up in southern Africa, which strongly shaped my worldview and passion for social causes,” he shares. He later moved to the USA for university on a scholarship that required him to work in the non-profit sector (organisations that aim to help people and communities) for three years. Roys journey took him through various leadership roles in social organisations, including CEO positions in San Francisco and the UK. He also works with organisations such as the YMCA in England and Wales, a charity supporting young people, and the Family Fund, which supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children on a low income.
Roy O’Shaughnessy, CEO of Bell
Joining Bell, Roy brings his wealth of experience and a fresh perspective, “I am passionate about language education and its transformative power for individuals and communities. As CEO, my goal is to honour Bell’s rich legacy while steering us towards new horizons.”
The Inspirational Origins of Bell
Did you know that Bell’s story began during World War II in a prisoner of war camp? Our founder, Frank Bell, was a visionary who believed in the unifying power of language.
While imprisoned, Frank organised secret language classes for fellow prisoners, teaching Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Italian, and Russian. Roy explains, “Lessons, timetables, vocabulary, grammar exercises and multilingual dictionaries were written on every scrap of paper that could be found… It was a simple act of defiance that quickly led to the creation of a ‘secret university’.”
After the war, Frank reflected on these experiences and realised that the route to international co-operation and understanding lay in learning. This led him to open his first language school in Cambridge, which still operates today as Bell Cambridge. “Frank’s dream was to create a global community where everyone could communicate effortlessly, fostering peace and understanding,” Roy told StudyTravel.
Bell’s Journey Through the Decades
From a single classroom, we’ve grown into a global leader in language education. Roy reflects, “We’ve transformed the traditional language learning experience by integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative teaching methods.”
Some of our key milestones include:
1954: The birth of Bell in Cambridge with Frank Bell developing his concept
1955: The first Bell Language school was started in Cambridge
1986: Bell launches its first young learner programme at The Leys, Cambridge that still runs to this day
1991: Bell opened its first London school
2009: Starting the Bell Teacher Academy in Cambridge.
2025: Bell celebrates 70 years of excellence!
Commitment to Innovation and Excellence
Innovation is at the heart of Bell’s approach. Our unique learning approach – The Bell Way – ensures you benefit from a learning experience that sees results. “Using our seven decades of experience, and shaped by an Emeritus Professor from the University of Cambridge, we have developed ‘The Bell Way’ which helps make you a better learner, builds your confidence and ensures you achieve your learning goals.,” Roy explains.
Making a Difference: Our Charitable Work
At Bell, giving back is essential. The Bell Foundation, established by Frank Bell, aims to improve the lives of children and adults in the UK who speak English as an additional language. “Our charitable efforts are a testament to our commitment to making a positive impact through education,” says Roy.
The Foundation has trained over 86,000 teachers since 2012 and works to break down language barriers. “With the new Government in post, the Foundation is stepping up its efforts to influence policy change to improve outcomes for both EAL (English as an Additional Language) and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners in the UK,” Roy adds.
Exciting Plans Ahead
So, what’s on the horizon for Bell?
- 70th Anniversary Celebrations: “We’re pulling out all the stops for our 70th anniversary! Our celebrations include a series of special events which will culminate in a major celebration at Bell Cambridge in the summer of 2025 – more details of which soon!,” Roy reveals.
- Alumni Program: We’re launching a program to connect former students, teachers, and staff – more info on this soon!
- New Look: Look out for our fresh ’70th Anniversary’ branding coming soon.
A Message to Our Community
At the heart of everything we do is our commitment to you—our students, teachers, and community. “We are optimistic about the future, and we will focus on a quality offering with an innovative experience for our students and partners,” Roy affirms.
Thank You for Being Part of Our Story
Next year we’ll be celebrating 70 years of connecting people through language and we want to thank you for being part of the Bell family. Whether you’re a current student, an alumnus, a teacher, or someone interested in learning English, you’re the reason we do what we do. Here’s to an exciting year ahead!
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Read Roy’s full interview with StudyTravel by clicking here.