Neil is originally from Glasgow, brought up in Cumbernauld, and went onto study Environmental Science at Lancaster University in 1986. He has achieved two environmental postgraduate degrees, the second of which gave Neil a great insight into industry before embarking upon a diverse career in various sectors in England and Scotland.
Neil also managed to attain a PDGE in Primary Teaching in 2009 before heading into community development work and roles in the private energy services sector where he now works for Warmworks Scotland – managing agent of the Scottish Government’s Warmer Homes Scotland scheme and other home energy projects – as their Communities Manager. This work has involved managing a strategy and initiatives around delivering community benefits, particularly those in relation to employment and skills, including supporting young people into the industry through a scheme called Warmstart.
Neil moved from the south side of Glasgow with wife, Pamela, in 2010, to bring up his family in Linlithgow. In his free time, Neil has been involved as a community volunteer and now trustee with Linlithgow Community Development Trust. He has been leading on the new community energy enterprise – Linlith-Go-Solar – delivering 2 successful phases for 3 sports clubs, and now aiming to scale up the community’s ambitions working with another 5 fellow communities in West Lothian and other parts of southern Scotland.
As well as giving free energy advice, organising local community energy events and setting up a Young Energy Enterprise Group, Neil also recently started a local Facebook group on Sustainable Retrofit and Net Zero Buildings to help local people share knowledge and best practice to make their homes and buildings greener and more affordable to heat
