Neil Woodward

Neil has a First degree in Microbiology & Virology at Warwick. He stayed on for a PhD but did not enjoy the research. He spent a year at Nottingham University doing research on a well-known domestic disinfectant for a well-known US household products company.

During this time, he had his first experience of working with disadvantaged people by volunteering for the university’s Community Service Volunteers. He then joined Edinburgh based brewers, Scottish & Newcastle (S&N). He became a microbrewery manager and finally UK Customer Relations manager. Along the way he did his Diploma Master Brewer exams. When S&N was dismembered by Heineken and Carlsberg, he continued as Heineken’s UK CRM until ill-health forced him into dispute with Heineken.

This was his first interaction with PIA, whose advocacy support helped him to achieve a satisfactory settlement with Heineken. After this episode, he was asked to apply for PIA’s Board of Trustees and the rest is history! He now works part-time for the National Library of Scotland in a less stressful but more satisfying role. Fun facts are he helped steer S&N into the Guinness Book of Records, he has been on TV twice, once on BBC Scotland’s evening news and the other, a Tyne Tees documentary.