Dr Matthew Higgins

Professional biography

I hold a BA (Hons First) Sociology from Staffordshire Polytechnic, a MA in Marketing (Distinction) from Bristol Business School and a PhD in Marketing Ethics from Keele University.

I started my academic career at Keele University in 1996 and have held roles at the University of Hertfordshire, University of Wolverhampton, Birmingham City University and the University of Worcester. Between 1999 and 2020 I worked at the University of Leicester, where my focus was on building and supporting the distance/flexible learning provision, being a part of the Distance Learning Directorate for the School of Business (2005-2020). Through distance learning I have been fortunate enough to teach in countries across continental Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Americas.

During my time at the University of Leicester I was also Associate Dean for External Engagement, and was a Board member of the Small Business Charter.

I am currently Head of Department for Strategy and Marketing.

Research interests

My research interests are in marketing and consumer related issues around supply chains, education management, ethics, social marketing, social enterprises and not for profit organisations. I've also been known to dabble in representations of marketing in popular culture.

Over the last 25 years I have supervised PhD and MPhil students to completion and have examined theses in the UK and overseas. I currently have the pleasure of supervising 

• Jessica Heddenhausen - Identity constructs and regenerative agriculture
• Nargis McCarthy - Socially Responsible Investing And Accountability: A Multi-Sited Ethnography Of UK Occupational Pension Schemes
• Calyxtus Enweazu - Customer Empathy in the Digital Era
• Kenji Ishihara – Habitus, Ethical Consumption and Religion in Japan

Teaching interests

I have taught marketing, consumer behaviour, services marketing, strategic marketing and research methods at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I hold a SEDA level 3 teaching qualification and I am also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I am also a reviewer for the Open University Applaud programme.

In my role as Marketing Qualification Lead I designed R84 BA (Honours) Marketing and Business Management. in 24/25 I am involved in production and/or presentation with the following modules:

Y035 - Business and Law access module.

B328 - Marketing in Action.

Impact and engagement

I have worked in a number of fields, including exhibition management, law, finance and retail. I’ve maintained this practitioner interest throughout my academic career, delivering applied research and consultancy in the areas of consumer research, service and product evaluation, channel management development, market intelligence, strategy development and branding.

I was Associate Dean for External and Business Engagement (2016-2018) for the University of Leicester School of Business and in 2017, following a successful ERDF funding bid, I took on the role of Marketing and Management Academic Lead within the University of Leicester Innovation Hub. The Leicester Innovation Hub was created to provide a front door for the businesses-facing activities of the University, allowing academic and research staff to develop new opportunities for strong partnerships with business and industry.

I have been a member of the Chartered Association of Business School (CABS) Small Business Charter Management Board (2017-2020). I am currently a Board member for Giving World and Personal Care Packs Ltd

External collaborations

I have been an External Examiner at a number of UK and international HEIs. I am also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Marketing Management.