Neil graduated with a degree in Mathematics from York University in the mid-1970s. He spent the next six years teaching English as a foreign language in Algeria, Japan and the UK, before basing himself in Edinburgh and working in computer systems consultancy.

In 1990, he joined the Bank of Scotland where he was to undertake a number of senior roles in Credit Risk Management, Product Management, and Policy and Planning. In 2002, he began working with Sainsbury's Bank in the capacity of Head of Products and went on to become Head of Risk Projects. 

 After taking (a very) early retirement in 2009, Neil joined a venture philanthropy fund, Inspiring Scotland, as a Performance Advisor. In 2013, Neil spent a year volunteering in Tanzania. Three months of this was working with EdUKaid, an experience he found extremely fulfilling. Since his return to the U.K., Neil has found himself working as a Performance Advisor for Inspiring Scotland again.  

Neil and Barbara returned to Tanzania on holiday in September 2015 and visited the EdUKaid office in Mikindani together with a number of the outlying schools. They were very pleased at the progress that the EdUKaid team continues to make.