Neil, known to colleagues as Pokey, served 27 years in the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. He began as a retained firefighter in 1995, progressing through the ranks to Watch Manager before retiring in 2022. Alongside his fire service career, Neil built extensive experience in fire safety, training, and leadership.

Since 2012, he has run his own company delivering Fire Safety Training, later expanding into First Aid, Manual Handling, and Confined Space training after gaining a teaching qualification in 2019. Passionate about equipping people with practical skills, Neil brings both technical expertise and real-world experience to his training.

Outside of work, Neil enjoys family life with his wife Miranda, their children Charlotte and Oliver, grandchildren Teddy and Ridley, and their three generations of labradors—Ember, Storm, and River.