Helen Preece

Biography

I have worked at the School of Management since 2000.

During this time I have held a variety of roles including Director of Studies for our UG suite of  programmes.

Over the last 8 years I have concentrated on the Programme Leadership of our largest apprenticeship programme, the CMDA. Whilst leading this programme we have had excellent degree and EPA results and achieved successful outcomes from Ofsted inspections. The apprenticeship route has allowed me to focus on supporting continued application of knowledge which is my passion. 

I am also the academic lead for our  initiative with Morrison's that involves our association and support with assessment of their internal Leadership School programme across all levels of management.

My background before, and since, starting to teach at the School was based in industry. I spent 5 years in the Strategic Marketing Department at Asda, the last three as Consumer Research Manager responsible for the full bespoke research budget. During this time I was also heavily involved in designing and developing the continuous research systems and surveys. I then spent two years within the manufacturing industry at wallcoverings and fabric manufacturer John Wilman Ltd. My role here was as Research and Analysis Manager with responsibility for all consumer and trade research as well as internal marketing information systems. I left this company to set up as a freelance Research and Marketing Consultant. During this time my clients included Moygashel Fabrics, Crown Paints, CO-OP Retail and various food manufacturers. My experience spreads across research design, fieldwork and implementation. It also includes extensive quantitative and qualitative experience – I am a trained and practiced qualitative moderator – an area of particular interest of hers. I have been involved in a very wide range of research projects including advertising development and monitoring, packaging and store design, product development and customer satisfaction. I was also involved, strategically, in own label development whilst at Asda, as well as the move from own label clothing to the “George” sub branding.   

Teaching

My core areas of teaching interest are in Marketing Research and Consumer Insight - including new and emerging techniques based on neuro/bio/psychometrics

I also have an interest in the area of marketing creativity and sensory marketing including the use of bio/neuro aesthetics.

I also deliver content on 3  Personal and Professional Development modules on the CMDA apprenticeship programme that support general management and leadership skills and EPA readiness 

Professional activities