Alison qualified in 1982 from the Joint Services School of Physiotherapy and worked in various NHS hospitals for 11 years, latterly as head of Out-Patient Physiotherapy at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal. In 1993 Alison left the NHS and travelled as a contract Physiotherapist in USA for 2 years working in a variety of facilities. On her return to Kendal in 1995 she started at the Kendal Physiotherapy Centre in private practice and became owner and Lead Clinician at the Centre in 1996.