Rob McKay MA, BSc(Hons),PGCHPE, SFHEA, FCMI, CMBE
Enterprise Fellow
Programme Manager for Help To Grow Management
My profile
Biography
Prior to joining the Centre for Enterprise at MMU in November 2021, I had spent 5 years at Keele managing ERDF backed projects in SME innovation and leadership including student-mediated knowledge exchange and innovation-centred leadership. From 2010-2016 I was part of the Corporate Programmes team in the Faculty of Business, Education & Law at Staffordshire University (Heading the team from the beginning of 2012), where I led on CPD and executive education provision.
From 1999-2010 I worked in the field of economic development and regeneration, managing programmes and projects within local government and regional development agencies around inward investment and investor development, business start-up, site development, tourism, town centre regeneration and skills & employability.
In my spare time I am a sled dog racer (2x UK Championship wins); I took up Paddle-boarding in 2021 and have been an intermittent student of Tai Chi since 2001.
Interests and expertise
My core interests are leadership and strategy, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises. I am also interested in the specifics of teaching and learning for practicing, experienced managers and other work based learners.
I hold post-graduate qualifications in Marketing, Business Administration, Philosophy, Higher & Professional Education, and Environmental Information Technology. My undergraduate degree was in Zoology.
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and a Chartered Management & Business Educator.
Career history
November 2021
Joined the Centre for Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University as an Enterprise Fellow, leading on the Help to Grow: Management programme.
Currently also managing the Open SME programme of on-line resources and micro-learning packages for SME owner/managers.
March 2017
Joined the University of Keele as a Project Manager for the Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme, delivering student-mediated knowledge exchange activity to Staffordshire SMEs to unblock new product development pathways.
In July 2018 I also took on the management of the Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership, building innovation-focussed cultures through senior decision makers in SMEs. Overall I led the team to deliver over 300 SME interventions leading to well over 100 new products to market, as well as significant job creation and revenue growth.
October 2010
Joined the Corporate Programmes Team at Staffordshire University, becoming Head of Corporate Programmes in January 2012. With a lead responsibility for CPD and executive education programmes I transitioned the team from a Business School to Faculty-wide remit, developed a significant growth in programme delivery with the Armed Forces and the private sector, led two major programme portfolio reviews including the development and redesign of a suite of Foundation Degrees.
Personally responsible for teaching over 250 working managers across SMEs, corporates and public sector bodies.