After 15 years in teaching, LEA advisory work and consultancy work for a number of curriculum and assessment projects, Niel joined the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority where he developed the original IT National Curriculum. He continued to be responsible for the IT curriculum at QCA.

Niel joined Becta in 1998 where he led on its curriculum, LEA support and inclusion work. He also established Becta's Evidence and Practice directorate as a focus for educational research on ICT and good practice. As Becta’s Executive Director for Children and families, he led the development of the self review framework for ICT and the ICT mark, and the previous government’s home access programme. Recently, Niel worked in the private sector as Director of Business Development for Digital Products at TSL Education, home of the TES.

He now leads the Futurelab Research Centre at NFER, which is committed to developing creative and innovative approaches to education to inspire, challenge and engage young people and equip them with the essential skills and attitudes for life, learning and work in the 21st Century. He is a member of UKCCIS, a trustee of the e-Learning Foundation and FutureVersity, and a fellow of the RSA.