Nigel provided independent consultancy, guidance and support for music education organisations:
- Determining strategic vision, positioning and priorities
 - Evaluating current performance, trends and issues
 - Identifying future pressures, challenges and opportunities
 - Appraising constitutional, financial, business and delivery options
 - Managing change, leading innovation
 - Developing organisational resilience
 - Supporting leaders, managers, teachers and tutors
 - Improving music teaching, and learning outcomes
 
Past commissions involved:
- Developing and delivering professional development support for senior and middle leaders
 - Reviewing organisation aims, strategic positioning, governance, programmes and outcomes
 - Supporting business planning, including funding and fundraising
 - Guiding curriculum planning and delivery
 - Advising on recruitment processes for senior leaders
 - Providing mentor support for leaders
 - Devising quality assurance protocols and programmes
 - Advising on regional and national projects
 - Authoring national reports and guidance
 
Nigel worked with a range of organisations, regionally and nationally, some of them on a regular basis. His clients included:
- Arts Council England
 - Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
 - Blackburn with Darwen Council
 - Cheadle Hulme School
 - Entrust Music and Performing Arts Service, Staffordshire
 - Gloucestershire County Council (for “Make Music Gloucestershire”)
 - Halton and Warrington Music Support Service
 - Herefordshire Music Service (for Herefordshire Music Education Hub)
 - Lancashire Music Service
 - LeicesterShire Schools Music Service (for LeicesterShire Music Education Hub)
 - Love Music Trust (for Cheshire East Music Education Hub)
 - Music Mark – the UK Association for Music Education
 - National Orchestra for All
 - North Tyneside Music Service
 - Nottingham Music Service (for Nottingham Music Education Hub)
 - Oldham Music Service
 - Oxfordshire Music Service
 - Sefton Music Service (for “SKY” Music Education Hub)
 - Sheffield Music Service
 - Somerset County Council (for Somerset Music Education Hub)
 - The Music Commission
 - Warrington Borough Council (for “Accent” Music Education Hub
 - West Midlands Music (collective of 14 West Midlands Music Services)
 - Wiltshire Music Connect
 
After more than 40 years working in music education, he retired in November 2020.