Thereafter he moved into private practice where he acquired experience of most structural materials on projects, which included multi-storey office blocks, factories and warehouses, housing developments and site investigations. More specialised experience was obtained as a registered certifier of timber framed housing for the National House-Building Council, as an approved inspector for PRC Homes Limited and as an expert witness in the High Court.

Having risen to the position of Associate he was entrusted with the responsibility for the establishment and management of a new branch office where he remained for three years until the formation of his own practice, Neil Johnson Associates.

A Corporate Member of two Engineering Institutions he served for a number of years on the Local Branch Committee of the Institution of Structural Engineers, initially as Graduate and Student Representative, and thereafter as a Full Member. He is also a Member of the Chartered Management Institute and a Fellow of the Faculty of Building.

For over twenty years he was been a Member, and three times President, of the Rotary Club of Kempston for which he has been awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship.