We have appointed Neill Ovenden as Technical Specialist/External Verifier (EV). In his new role, where he’ll chiefly be supporting LCL centres, Neill will also be involved in developing qualifications, writing assessments and examinations and working as a technical reviewer.

Neill brings a great deal of practical experience to the role, having trained and assessed in domestic gas & LPG for a number of years. He also holds the majority of the Non-Domestic Heating & Catering certificates along with various associated qualifications.

About Neill

After school Neill joined the family gas business, Harlequin Services, delivering LPG to customers in Norfolk and Suffolk. He then attended Worcester College and gained his ACoP for Caravans and Boats. This took the business in a new and profitable direction working on caravan sites and boat yards.

A few years later, Neill and his father both attained their Domestic ACS at Domestic Gas Services in Great Yarmouth. This opened up another work stream and links with local letting agencies, appliance showrooms and private individuals and as this side of the business grew the company began to concentrate on the servicing and installation of gas appliances.

In 2008, when the centre’s original owner decided to retire, Neill and his father took it over and concentrated their efforts on supplementing the already successful ACS side, to offer qualifications in Water Regulations and Unvented appliances. As the centre grew, the range of qualifications it offered grew too, to include Legionella and OFTEC.

Business was going very well and then they hit, what Neill describes as a ‘catastrophe’ when their original Certification Body decided to move away from ACS. It was at this point, that Neill’s relationship with LCL really took off.  

“Logic Certification were the forerunners from the start, with the “can do” attitude and the multitude of courses (especially new entrant LPG) on offer. Just before the CB move I had already stepped on the ladder to becoming an EV and Logic were happy to help me continue on this path. In early 2018 I gained my EV Qualification.”

In August 2018 Neill was allocated 20 centres around the country and worked as an associate EV before he joined LCL, full-time, in his current position.

Neill concluded: “I am looking forward to all aspects of the role and my previous experience as a trainer and assessor will help me understand the requirements of the centres I’ll be working with.”