Colin has a background based in food and farming. As the son of a Master Butcher and Smallholder he was brought up working in the butcher's shop, the slaughterhouse and on the poultry farm. Later working on the pig unit at the Royal Show. However he turned his back on the family business and farming and started teaching in 1973 as a Science teacher and specialising in Environmental Science A level.

He came to Market Drayton's Grove School in 1979 and continued to teach there until 1993. At this point he changed direction and moved into the IT business. He is now director of Interactive Informatic Services Limited based at Myddle. A company which specialises in working with small businesses to provides all their IT needs, computer hardware, computer software, installing small networks, training. and consultancy.