In 2021, Neil, a native of Dumfries and Galloway, moved back home to take up the role of Project Management Lead for the second and final phase of the Dumfries Learning Town masterplan. This  follows 15 years at West Lothian Council, as a project manager and latterly the Capital Programme and Projects Principal directly responsibly for delivering £200m + of West Lothian’s Education Capital Projects, including the new West Calder High School, Winchburgh Campus (a denominational, and a non-denominational secondary schools, a shared sports and wellbeing hub including a 25m swimming pool and a denominational primary school). He also delivered Scotland’s first public sector Passivhaus building, Blackridge Nursery.

Neil’s previous involvement in Scotland’s Schools for the Future and the Learning Estate Investment Programme projects has provided him with invaluable experience and knowledge of delivering high quality educational facilities to national area and cost metrics and outcomes based funding targets. Neil is Dumfries and Galloway’s Senior Responsible Officer for the delivery of the replacement Dumfries High School which is part of LEIP ph2  and the refurbishment of the historic Category B listed Dumfries Academy, which once constructed will complete the Dumfries Learning Town.