About
A dynamic and accomplished Principal Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader with over ten years of experience in higher education, specializing in entrepreneurship, employability, and digital innovation. Recognized for inspirational teaching (SHU Inspirational Teacher Award, 2017) and achieving consistently high NSS scores (+90%). Pioneered innovative degree apprenticeships and live client projects, enhancing student outcomes and industry engagement. Commercially astute with eight years of experience in business development, research consultancy, and strategic marketing. Currently researching blockchain and cryptocurrency applications in marketing.
Honours and Prizes
Faculty inspirational teacher 2013,2014,2015,2016
Sheffield Hallam Inspirational Teaching Award, 2017
Student experience awards 2013 (x3), 2014 (x2), 2015 (x2), 2016(x1), 2017(x1)
ACES faculty team of the year award 2013
NCEE award for enterprise 2013
Shortlisted for Guardian HE award of Employability
Teaching responsibilities
• Programme Leadership: Leading the Senior Leader Apprenticeship programme at the University of Derby (2022–present) and the Digital Technical Solutions Professional (DTSP) apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University (2018–2022), overseeing curriculum delivery and student support.
• Module Leadership: Delivering modules at the University of Derby, including Marketing Metrics, International Marketing, Digital Innovation and Change Management, Customer Insights and Trends, and Business Acumen and Entrepreneurship.
• Curriculum Development: Designing and validating innovative curricula, such as one of the UK’s first IT degree apprenticeships at Sheffield Hallam, incorporating work-based learning and live client briefs.
• Student Supervision: Managing over 90 learners in the DTSP programme, coordinating with 23 employers to ensure robust support and industry alignment.
• PhD Supervision: Serving as Director of Studies for six PhD students
• Lecturing: Delivering full-module lectures on Project Management to 170 students at the University of Sheffield (2008) and guest lectures for MBA cohorts (2007–2008).
• Employability Initiatives: Representing the faculty on employability initiatives, increasing placement take-up to over 400 students in Arts, Computing, Engineering, and Sciences at Sheffield Hallam (2014–2018).
• Innovative Teaching: Pioneering live client briefs impacting over 1,000 students and creating career boot camps (“Get Placed,” 2015–16) and industry events (Barclays Eagle Lab Live, 2017).
• Programme Management: Leading IT Management, IT with Business Studies, and Business and ICT programmes at Sheffield Hallam (2009–2017), achieving NSS scores above 90%.
• Event Organization: Managing successful open days for six years at Sheffield Hallam to enhance student recruitment and organizing collaborative industry events like Inspiring Students (2013) and STACK (2017–18).
• External Examining: Serving as External Examiner for TARUMT, Malaysia, ensuring academic quality and standards.
Professional interests
I have over eight years of commercial experience delivering results across multiple sectors. As a Business Advisor at Business Link South Yorkshire, I supported over 100 SMEs in the creative and digital industries, securing £2 million in investments through financial forecasting and grant applications. At Tesco Corporate and Gala Group, I conducted market analysis that informed board-level strategies on site viability and customer engagement. At Idmagasin, I led behavioral research projects for clients like EA Games and Coca-Cola. At Experian UK, I managed a strategic project for Orange Telecoms, leading a team of three. As a Research Associate at Loughborough University, I handled research on automotive dealer-OEM relationships. My work consistently turned insights into measurable outcomes.
Research interests
My research interests focus on the transformative potential of blockchain and cryptocurrency in marketing, examining how digital assets can enhance traceability, foster competitive advantages, and support sustainable practices in areas like low-carbon economies. I explore the enablers of blockchain adoption in organizations, delving into digital asset management and organizational capabilities. Additionally, I investigate university-industry collaboration, particularly how digital hubs and innovative frameworks can strengthen ties between academia and business. My work also spans employability in higher education, studying experiential learning models like live client projects and degree apprenticeships to improve student outcomes and industry relevance.
Membership of professional bodies
Member of the Academy of Marketing
Qualifications
- PhD in Marketing, Loughborough University, 1999
- BSc in Management Sciences, Loughborough University, 1995
- PGCertHE, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Sheffield Hallam University, 2009
Recent conferences
• Academy of Marketing, Birmingham, UK (2022): Presented "Enablers of Blockchain Adoption in Organisations: A view of digital assets and organisational capabilities in Blockchain Technology"
• ISBE Conference, Birmingham, UK (2018): Presented “The Role of a Digital Hub in University-Industry Collaboration,” showcasing frameworks for enhancing academic-business partnerships through digital innovation hubs.
• 15th Uddevalla Symposium, Faro, Portugal (2012): Co-authored and presented “Loss in Entrepreneurial Settings: Lessons from Deprived Areas” with N. Williams, exploring entrepreneurial resilience and challenges in underserved communities.
• Experiential Entrepreneurship Exercises Journal Conference (2016): Delivered insights on “Mini-Marketplace Networking,” a practical exercise for fostering entrepreneurial skills via simulated business interactions.
Experience in industry
I have over eight years of commercial experience delivering results across multiple sectors. As a Business Advisor at Business Link South Yorkshire, I supported over 100 SMEs in the creative and digital industries, securing £2 million in investments through financial forecasting and grant applications. At Tesco Corporate and Gala Group, I conducted market analysis that informed board-level strategies on site viability and customer engagement. At Idmagasin, I led behavioral research projects for clients like EA Games and Coca-Cola. At Experian UK, I managed a strategic project for Orange Telecoms, leading a team of three. As a Research Associate at Loughborough University, I handled research on automotive dealer-OEM relationships. My work consistently turned insights into measurable outcomes.
International experience
External Examiner for TARUMT, Malaysia
Recent publications
Recent Output
Hirst, A. Veasey C. and J Daniel. (2024) Enablers of Blockchain Adoption in Organisations: A view of digital assets and organisational capabilities in Blockchain Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Vaccine Supply Chain Management. Taylor and Francis.
Works of high significance
Andy Hirst, and Gareth Smith (2001), "Strategic political segmentation - A new approach for a new era of political marketing", European Journal of Marketing, Vol.35,No. 9/10,
A Hirst, and V Theoharakis (2002) Perceptual Differences of Marketing Journals: A Worldwide Perspective. Marketing Letters, Marketing Letters Vol 13:4, 389–402.
