Neil in a Nutshell…

Neil Carmichael was born in 1961. He married Laurence, a university researcher, in 1995. They have three children James, 13, now at Marling School, and Alicia and Rebecca, 12, both now at Stroud High School.

Neil was educated at the University of Nottingham where he studied politics.

His early working life was spent as a farmer, producing beef and lamb. He remains involved in agriculture although he now focuses on developing environment schemes and woodland.

During the 1990s, Neil was a Visiting Lecturer at two universities, teaching British Political History and Rural Economics in Europe. At this time, he was also chair of a charity providing day care for adults with learning disabilities.

During the last ten years, Neil has worked in business with a focus on investment in Eastern Europe – notably Poland – and public services. He has also provided public relations advice for a range of large companies.

In his spare time, Neil follows some sports, and enjoys films, reading and social activities. He is currently renovating a Massey Ferguson 135 tractor.

CURRENT PORTFOLIO

BUSINESS, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR

2001 - present Strategic Impact London, Gloucestershire

• Public policy/affairs – working in both the public and private sectors.  Liaising with local government, national government, EU agencies and institutions, and media organisations. Worked with Bevan Brittan, Hutchinson, Sainsburys, JBP and others.
• Developing capabilities in Project Finance, providing access to funding, partnership management, advice on local and regional government, relevant training and corporate social responsibility strategies.
• Major projects are the development of new business in Poland and policy development through several think tanks.
• Formal partnership with University of Bristol, University of West of England and Bevan Brittan in the Great Western Research Project (The Role of Knowledge in Strategic Environmental Assessment in the South West of England ) supported a PhD Studentship

2001 - present Rural Business

• Land management. Currently developing renewable energy, woodland schemes and recreational fishing lake.

PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT – AGRICULTURE

1982 - 2001 Farmer

Farming business with three livestock farms (tenanted and, later, owned).  Built herd of 400 suckler cows (AAX and Lim X) and followers (moved towards closed herd) and flock of 3000 breeding ewes, producing Mule, Swale and Suffolk X lambs.

LECTURING, PAPERS, RESEARCH

• 1996 - 1999 Sunderland and De Montford Universities Visiting Lecturer
• Lecturer and examiner within departments of Politics (Sunderland) and Human Geography (De Montford). Undergraduate courses delivered include:
• Rural Economic Development in Europe (3rd year)
• British Politics 1945-1997 (1st year)
• European Institutions and Policies (2nd year)
• Editor and contributor, “Conservatives and Localism”, published by New Local Government Network, 2007
• “From MAFF to DEFRA– a policy changing journey for agriculture”, Journal of the Institute of Agricultural Management, Vol 12, No 10. (refereed article) 2006
• “Sub-national Capital Transfers - Private Finance Initiatives in Poland”, EURA Conference, (Warsaw, May 2006)
• “What next for DEFRA?”, paper at Rural Futures Conference, (April 2006)
• Presented paper to Media and Democracy Conference at Loughborough University on the relationship between political parties and media outlets
• University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES), Budapest, University of Central Europe. Paper explored the Conservative Party’s European policy within an institution theory framework
• South Bank University, European Institute, London. Paper discussed Britain’s relationship with the Commonwealth and EU, in the context of foreign policy
• Co-author of “Reforming the European Union: Proposals for the 1996 IGC”

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION SERVICE

• 2008 -2009 Chairman of Governors, Marling School
• 2001- present Governor (Vice-Chairman, 2007 - 08) of Stroud College
• Chairman of Finance and General Purposes Committee
• 2004 -2006 Member of Gloucestershire Learning and Skills Council Audit Committee
• 2001 -2005 Governor of Randwick School
• 1989 -1999 Governor of Chollerton C of E First School
• 1989 -1993 County Councillor, Northumberland County Council
• Served on Education, Social Services, Economic Planning and Public Protection Committees.  Served on Senior Staff Appointments Panel.
• 1989 -1993 Governor of Kirkley Hall, College of Agriculture
• Governor of Northumberland College of Art and Technology
• Chairman of Staff Disciplinary Committee (Kirkley Hall)

CHARITY WORK

• 1992 - 1999 Northumbria Daybreak Chairman/Chief Executive
• Northumberland/Durham
• Chairman of Northumbria Daybreak
• Charity looking after people with learning disabilities.  Providing day care, employment experience and several training functions. Responsibilities included:
• Business and strategic planning, personnel management and communications
• Public sector contract negotiation

POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

• 2006-07 “Quality of Life” Commission, Convenor of waste treatment policy group
• 2006 – onwards Parliamentary Candidate for Stroud (Conservative) www.neilcarmichael.co.uk
• 2005 and 2001 Parliamentary Candidate for Stroud, lost by just 350 votes in 05, 4.3% swing

QUALIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

• Member, Royal Institute of International Affairs
• Institute of Agricultural Management
• Political Studies Association
• 1979 - 1982 University of Nottingham BA (Hons) Politics
• 1974 - 1979 St Peter’s School, York

LEISURE INTERESTS

Family (3 children – James (13), Alicia and Rebecca (12)), international travel, agriculture, woodland, motor racing, English Civil War, social events, water sports, golf.

NEIL CARMICHAEL

Southview, Park End, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 4BB

Telephone: 01453 757990