Hi, I’m Neil Phillipson.
I’ve been fascinated by space for as long as I can remember – from spacecraft engineering and astrophysics to simply gazing at the night sky. That passion led me to found Outsideology 15 years ago, where I design and build astronomical observatories of all shapes and sizes for clients across the UK and beyond.
Academically, I hold a Masters degree in Physics with Space Science (Kent, ’96) and I’m a qualified electrican by trade. That mix makes me an engineer at heart – and an entrepreneur by experience, having founded and run several businesses over the years. I’m passionate about sharing the wonders of space, whether through observatories, satellite ground stations, or simply inspiring others to look up.
I’m a project person through and through: detail-obsessed yet big-picture focused. From concept to handover, I bring scientific insight, engineering know-how, and a problem-solving mindset to deliver projects on-time and on-budget. While most of my work today involves observatory buildings, I’ve tackled projects in electronics, communications, ultra-low energy homes, and even theatrical productions.
I also speak professionally on astronomy and space – from scout groups to corporate audiences, intimate talks to large-scale productions. Check out my speaking topics here.