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HomeAcademic staffMs Helen Aston
Ms Helen Aston

Ms Helen Aston

astonh@lsbu.ac.uk

Marketing, Tourism, Events and Hospitality

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I joined LSBU following a career in Marketing. I currently hold the position of Assistant Head of Division (Marketing Tourism Events & Hospitality) within the Business School.

My particular interests are across services marketing activities and the challenges service companies face. I am particularly interested in the importance of understanding and creating an excellent customer experience. This is a growing trend and companies are recognising the need to scrutinise the customer journey and map this both traditionally and digitally. I am investigating customer maps and how these can be used as a staff training tool and to identify fail points.

Prior to joining LSBU I held a wide variety of marketing positions. I began my career as an Advertising and PR Account Manager working predominantly within the B2B sector with clients in the building industry. Working very closely with a number of clients I built close relations with the press, created news stories, designed exhibition stands including within the Ideal Home Exhibition and organised product launches.

I later worked for a publishing house where I was an editor for a number of trade magazines. This involved working with journalists, developing editorial and advertising content and designing the overall layout.

Latterly I was the Marketing Services Manager for a shower manufacturer where I managed all marketing communications. This included briefing the various communication agencies, devising an overall communication plan and also working closely with research agencies and the manufacturing part of the company to develop a new product strategy and roll out,

Due to these positions I am able to not only bring a wealth of experience to my roles but I have maintained significant industry contacts who act as guest speakers, assist in curriculum development and provide job opportunities for students. These contacts have helped to develop the pedagogic research I have been working on around enriching the online student experience through the introduction of a formalised, extra-curricula 'professional learning community (PLC)' guest lecture series.

Courses taught

Bsc (Hons) Marketing with Advertising and Digital Communications

Diploma in Marketing

Chartered Institute of Marketing

1988
1988
Advertising and PR Account Manager
Langley Communication/CBT

I worked predominantly within the B2B sector with clients in the building industry. Working very closely with a number of clients I built close relations with the press, created news stories, designed exhibition stands including within the Ideal Home Exhibition and organised product launches.

1988
1990
Commercial/industry
Editor
Imperial Publishing

This involved working with journalists, developing editorial and advertising content and designing the overall layout.

1990
1990
Commercial/industry
Marketing Services Manager
Aqualisa

I managed all marketing communications. This included briefing the various communication agencies, devising an overall communication plan and also working closely with research agencies and the manufacturing part of the company to develop a new product strategy and roll out

1990
1992
Commercial/industry

Filter publications

Stochastic Modelling of Capital Goods Buying
Bennett, DR and Aston, H (2017). Stochastic Modelling of Capital Goods Buying. LSBU Researcher Poster Competition. London South Bank University 06 - 07 Jul 2017 London South Bank University.

Airplanes are like really big candy bars
Bennett, DR and Aston, H (2016). Airplanes are like really big candy bars. LSBU Research Summer School. London South Bank University, London 14 Jul 2016 London South Bank University.