Dr Michael Benson DBA MSc BA (Hons) DipM PGCE FHEA FCIM Chartered Marketer
Associate Head of Sheffield Business School
Summary
I am the Associate Head of Sheffield Business School responsible for the Sheffield Business School Apprenticeship portfolio. I oversee Apprenticeship programmes:
Digital Accountant and Finance Manager
Professional Practice in Supply Chain Leadership
Food Industry Technical Professional
Professional Practice in Management
Real Estate
Senior Leader Apprenticeship
My work includes working collaboratively with Apprenticeship employers, internal academic and professional services teams to provide high-calibre courses that meet apprentice and employer expectations.
About
I am the Associate Head of Sheffield Business School with oversight and responsibility for the portfolio of Sheffield Business School Apprenticeships. I have 25 years experience working in senior business management roles for leading blue chip organisations including Asda Stores PLC and Neals Yard Remedies. I have also over 11 years academic experience researching and teaching with Retailing and Sustainable Supply Chain. I have been able to integrate my business experience into my research and teaching, that supports the University values of applied learning. I was born into retailing as the fourth generation of a large family butchers and bakery business started in 1904, and this passion for retailing was extended when I completed my Doctor of Business Administration in 2020, with a retailing thesis entitled Value Creation in Category Management Relationships in the UK Grocery Market’. The thesis brought together the power of collaboration and how this adds value in business relationships, and has been plaudit as a real world practical example of the famous Vargo and Lusch's theories of Service-Dominant Logic. My teaching is very applied and I have shared my research and experience as far away as Malaysia, China and the United States. I also present at both academic and industry conferences, and remain the only academic to present at the prestigious IGD Category Management Summit, London 2018, where over 300 food retail industry professional came together. I was able to bring together my thesis research and apply to the challenges currently being experienced. My own learning and collaboration is always shared across my teaching and research to ensure students, apprentices and academics are always kept up to date with the latest thinking and innovation.
I am proud to have pioneered and delivered the FABSTALKS Lecture Series including keynotes from The Bank of England, Houses of Parliament, Virgin Money, Clipper Logistics, Costa and Deloitte, where over 1.500 students gained valuable CPD, gained new skills and networks to help with their future graduate employability. I created and led the final year Consultancy Project module, where over 300 students per year worked collaboratively with industry partners to help them solve their latest business challenges. Students are encouraged to include the latest research and insight to provide solutions for the businesses. I also negotiated the inclusion of international Consultancy Project clients through the University initiative - Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project. I collaborated with the University of Texas at Dallas where students in the UK and USA worked together to help find solutions to international business problems on both sides 'of the pond'. This allowed students to develop international employability skills such as working in different time zones.
I have taught students and apprentices at all academic levels, including Higher Degree Apprenticeships and on the MBA programme, and through the introduction of my industry experience and doctoral level research provide a unique blended student learning experience. I am a Chartered Marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). I am an external examiner with University of West of England, Honorary President of Sugarwise Charity, Treasurer of British Academy of Management Marketing & Retail SIG, Committee Member of Category Landscaper Group, and of course my other passion away from the university, and a member of Abbeydale Golf Club.
Finally, I have brought significant funding into Sheffield Business School through my networks and contacts including KTPs, and collaborative COIL programme.
Teaching expertise
- All aspects of marketing teaching from L4 to L7
- Food Marketing, Strategy, Food Safety Management, Retailing
- Food Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Food manufacturing
- Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Research
- Retailing
- Strategy and Marketing
Industry Links
- Fellow and Chartered Marketer
- Collaboration and research support
- Key account development in recruitment, innovation, student experience
Teaching
Department of Finance, Accounting and Business Systems
Sheffield Business School, College of Business, Technology and Engineering
Relevant projects:
HSBC CPD Manufacturing Course
Student Consultancy Projects
COIL International Project
KTP - Tempus Novo Charity
Retailing Higher Degree Apprenticeship
Digital Finance and Account Manager Higher Degree Apprenticeship
Virgin Money Greenhouse Programme
Retailing and Sustainable Supply Chain
Courses taught:
2010 to 2013 Chartered Institute Marketing - University Central Lancashire
2013 to present Undergraduate - Sheffield Hallam University
2013 to present Postgraduate - Sheffield Hallam University
2014 to 2017 International (TARUC) - Sheffield Hallam University
2016 to 2018 Undergraduate - Chartered Institute Marketing
2015 to present Higher Degree Apprenticeship - Sheffield Hallam University
BSc (Hons) Food Marketing Management
BSc (Hons) Food and Nutrition
BA (Hons) Supply Chain Leadership Degree Apprenticeship
Modules taught:
Food Innovation Consultancy Challenge (FICC) (40 credits)
Finance Accounting & Business Consultancy
International Food Marketing & Retail Practice
External Environment (Including Work Based Learning)
Work Based Investigation (60 Credits)
Financial & Management Accounting
Research
Link 1
https://sheffieldhallam.sharepoint.com/sites/staffhome/SitePages/Here%27s-what-happened-when-Michael-Benson-went-to-prison.aspx
Link 2
https://theconversation.com/if-amazon-buys-morrisons-it-could-be-a-win-for-consumers-and-a-major-threat-to-other-supermarkets-163189
Link 3
https://shura.shu.ac.uk/27678/1/Benson_2020_DBA_ValueCreationCategory.pdf
Link 4
https://shu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/openurl?institution=44SHU_INST&vid=44SHU_INST:44SHU_VU1&date=2024-02-12&rft.volume=52&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:ofi%2Fnam:urn:ISSN:0959-0552&rft_id=info:doi%2F10.1108%2FIJRDM-12-2021-0618&rft.date=2024-02-12&url_tim=2024-12-08T15:41:21Z&rft.genre=article&rft.issue=2&rft.atitle=Service-dominant%20logic:%20reframing%20category%20captainship%20and%20retailer%20category%20management&url_ctx_fmt=info:ofi%2Ffmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft.issn=0959-0552
Link 5
https://www.vlebooks.com/Product/Index/1574142?page=0&startBookmarkId=-1
Collaborators and Sponsors:
Asda Stores PLC, Taylors of Harrogate, Warburtons, Innocent Drinks, Diageo, Coca Cola, Costa Coffee, Cranswick Foods, Muller, Clipper Logistics, HSBC, Virgin Money, Abalone Graff, Deloitte, British Business Bank, BHP Accountants, Henry Boot Construction
Publications
Journal articles
Benson, M.C., Glanfield, K., Hirst, C., & Wakenshaw, S. (2024). Service-dominant logic: reframing category captainship and retailer category management. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 52 (2), 149-167. http://doi.org/10.1108/ijrdm-12-2021-0618
Benson, M., Glanfield, K., Hirst, C., & Wakenshaw, S. (2022). Service-Dominant Logic: reframing retail category management. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management.
Conference papers
Benson, M., Beresford, P., & Hirst, C. (2019). Value Creation or Destruction: The Role of Private label in UK Grocery Category Management Decisions. In British Academy of Management (2019) Conference Building and Sustaining High Performance Organisations during Uncertain Times: Challenges and Opportunities, Aston University, Birmingham, 3 September 2019 - 5 September 2019. BAM: https://www.bam.ac.uk/marketing-and-retail-0
Benson, M., Beresford, P., & Hirst, C. (2019). Value Creation Capacity of Category Management Collaborations in the UK Private Label Chilled Food Sector. In The Second Global Conference on Creating Value (New York), New York, NY, USA, 14 May 2019 - 16 May 2019. http://www.creatingvalue.co/conference/
Benson, M., Goose, C., Hall, C., Webb, A., & Louis, A. (2019). The Undiscovered Truths of Collaborative Value Creation in UK Grocery Retail Category. In The Second Global Conference on Creating Value (New York), New York, NY, USA, 14 May 2019 - 16 May 2019.
Benson, M., Hirst, C., & Beresford, P. (2018). The changing role of the Category Captain in UK grocery retail market. Recent Advances in Retailing and Services Science.
Book chapters
Barnes, B., Benson, M., & Beresford, P. (2019). Retail and Distribution. In Marketing Real People, Real Decisions. (Third European Edition). Pearson
Benson, M., & Beresford, P. (2019). Retail and Distribution. In Pearson Etext for Marketing Real People, Real Choices -- Access Card. (Third European Edition). Pearson
Scholarly editions
Benson, M. (Ed.). (2021). If Amazon buys Morrisons, it could be a win for consumers and a major threat to other supermarkets. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/if-amazon-buys-morrisons-it-could-be-a-win-for-consumers-and-a-major-threat-to-other-supermarkets-163189
Benson, M. (Ed.). (2021). If Amazon buys Morrisons, it could be a win for consumers and a major threat to other supermarkets. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/if-amazon-buys-morrisons-it-could-be-a-win-for-consumers-and-a-major-threat-to-other-supermarkets-163189
Theses / Dissertations
Benson, M. (2020). Value Creation in Category Management Relationships in the UK Grocery Market. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Hirst, C., & Schofield, P.
Presentations
Benson, M., Beresford, P., & Hirst, C. (2019). Value Creation or Destruction: The Role of Private label in UK Grocery Category Management Decisions. Presented at: BAM 2019 Conference Building and Sustaining High Performance Organisations during Uncertain Times: Challenges and Opportunities, Aston University, Birmingham
Benson, M., Murray, F., & Taylor, A. (2019). Food Innovation Consultancy Challenge: 'Live' Learning and Professional Development with an Industry Client. Presented at: BAM 2019 Conference, Birmingham, UK, 2019
Benson, M., Hirst, C., & Beresford, P. (2019). Value Creation Capacity of Category Management Collaborations in the UK Private Label Chilled Food Sector. Presented at: The Second Global Conference on Creating Value (New York), New York, NY, USA, 2019
Benson, M., Goose, C., Webb, A., Hall, C., & Louis, A. (2019). The Undiscovered Truths of Collaborative Value Creation in UK Grocery Retail Category Management Relationships. Presented at: The Second Global Conference on Creating Value (New York), New York, NY, USA, 2019
Benson, M. (2018). IGD Category Management and Shopper Marketing Summit.
Benson, M. (2018). Category Captain Adding Value in Category Management Relationships in a Changed Retail Marketspace.
Benson, M., Hirst, C., & Schofield, P. (2018). Value for whom? A critical Analysis of Category Management Relationships in the UK Grocery Sector.
Benson, M., Hirst, C., & Beresford, P. (2018). The Changing Role of the Category Captain in UK Grocery Retail Market. Presented at: Recent Advances in Retailing and Services Science, MELIÃ MADEIRA MARE Rua de Leichlingen nos 2 & 4 Funchal, Madeira
Benson, M. (2017). BAM Marketing & Retail SIG Event.
Benson, M. (2017). The creation of value in category management from a food manufacturing and retailing perspective.
Benson, M. (2017). Value Creation in Category Management Relationships: A Comparative Analysis. Presented at: BAM 2017 Annual Conference - 'Re-connecting management research with the disciplines: Shaping the research agenda for the social sciences', Newcastle University
Benson, M. (2017). Value Creation in Category Management Relationships: A Comparative Analysis. Presented at: BAM 2017 Annual Conference - 'Re-connecting management research with the disciplines: Shaping the research agenda for the social sciences', Newcastle University
Posters
Benson, M. (2019). Reducing Childhood Obesity: Food Innovation Consultancy Challenge. Presented at: 2019 PHE Conference, Warwick University, 2019
Benson, M. (2015). What constitutes an effective retailing relationship? Presented at: SBS Doctoral Conference, Sheffield, UK, 2015
Other activities
2016 – Present Category Landscapers Committee
2016 to present Treasurer: British Academy of Management (Marketing & Retail SIG)
2018 to present Honorary President: Sugarwise Charity
2020 – Present External Examiner: UWE, Bristol
Postgraduate supervision
Doctor of Business Administration:
Fiona Oster - University of Birmingham, Dubai (Retail: Medical Technology)
Justus Benning - REWE Group, Germany (Retail: Self-Service Checkout Technology)