BSc (Hons) Business Management
Develop the skills, confidence and real-world experience you’ll need to succeed in the diverse world of business with our top-ranked, CMI-accredited business management degree.
View course Michelle Merry
AMRAeS, MAPM, AFHE, BSc Psych, PCC
Apprenticeship and Revo Programme Manager
Department of Business and Law
Room no. RM313
Biography
Michelle is an accomplished learning and development leader with extensive experience in higher education, executive education, and corporate leadership development. As Apprenticeship and REVO Programme Manager and Deputy Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange at Solent Business School, Michelle is responsible for a diverse portfolio of programmes, including executive education, senior leadership apprenticeships, the Chartered Management Institute partnership, the REVO Retail and Leisure Place Management programme, and the national Help to Grow initiative.
In her current role as Apprenticeship and REVO Programme Manager and Deputy Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange at Solent Business School, Michelle leads senior leadership apprenticeships, executive education, and commercial training programmes in partnership with industry and government. She specialises in sector‑aligned curriculum design, coaching, and leadership development, ensuring programmes deliver measurable results for both individuals and employers. She engages closely with industry and government to shape vocational pathways, particularly in commercial aviation. An active contributor to regional and national skills development, Michelle is a member of Business South Workforce.
Michelle is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, and she holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching and Psychology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, and advanced qualifications in change management. She is also an active contributor to industry networks and EDI initiatives, including women’s leadership mentoring programmes.
Further information
Michelle is a highly experienced leadership and workforce development specialist with over two decades of experience in operational leadership, organisational transformation and talent development across the aviation, retail, property and place management sectors.
She has held senior operational and leadership roles with major airlines, international airports and industry‑leading organisations, delivering large‑scale change and skills strategies that improve performance, capability, and engagement.
Michelle has developed a reputation for designing and delivering high-impact, industry-informed programmes that equip current and future leaders with the skills, behaviours, and confidence to thrive. She is adept at fostering collaboration between academia and industry, ensuring that learning is grounded in real-world challenges and directly aligned to organisational goals.
Michelle’s expertise includes curriculum design, human-centred learning, programme and change management, coaching, and behavioural change. Her consultancy and leadership development experience is underpinned by a strong track record in operational excellence and organisational transformation.
Her aviation career includes pivotal leadership roles at Heathrow Airport, where she was responsible for the operational performance, service delivery, and safety of Terminal 5, leading diverse team in complex operational environments, whilst delivering services to over 75 million passengers annually. She designed and implemented Heathrow’s frontline operational managers’ leadership programme, by integrating different learning strategies to engage diverse learner groups. She combined experiential, blended, and work‑based approaches to ensure knowledge transfer, practical application, and measurable impact in the workplace and achieving significant improvements in leadership capability, colleague engagement, and service outcomes.
Earlier in her career, Michelle worked for British Airways, Caledonian Airways, and BAA in roles spanning cabin crew, purser, performance management, and airport duty management, giving her deep operational expertise across the passenger journey.
Previous this, Michelle spent several years working overseas in the tourism sector, representing UK and international travel companies in resort destinations across Europe, the USA, and the Caribbean. In these roles, she acted as both an overseas representative and guide, providing exceptional customer service, coordinating excursions, and ensuring the smooth running of travel and hospitality operations for international guests. Her work involved liaising with local suppliers, managing on‑the‑ground logistics, and delivering destination briefings that enhanced the customer experience. This period honed her cross‑cultural communication skills, adaptability, and ability to deliver high‑quality service in fast‑changing environments — capabilities that have underpinned her later success in aviation, retail, and leadership development.
Beyond aviation, Michelle has delivered transformation programmes in retail and hospitality, including as Business Change Manager for Berry Bros. & Rudd, where she improved operational efficiencies by 17% and implemented new collaborative working practices across UK and international sites. She has also developed and delivered specialist training and consultancy for the retail property sector, including the REVO Retail and Leisure Place Management Programme.
In her current role as Apprenticeship and REVO Programme Manager and Deputy Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange at Solent Business School, Michelle leads senior leadership apprenticeships, executive education, and commercial training programmes in partnership with industry and government. She specialises in sector‑aligned curriculum design, coaching, and leadership development, ensuring programmes deliver measurable results for both individuals and employers.
Taught courses
MBA Global Master of Business Administration
Add value to your organisation with a graduate MBA from Solent. Develop a deeper understanding of business and the challenges facing today's global economy.
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Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (Fast-Track)
This flexible apprenticeship programme provides research and learning for the ever-changing world of business, applying theoretical models to real-life case studies and your own...
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Senior Leader Apprenticeship
Develop the knowledge, tools and techniques to accelerate your career path into senior management with this innovative apprenticeship, building on your existing experience...
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Revo CertHE in Retail and Leisure Place Management
Created specifically for the retail and property industry, this de facto entry level qualification has been developed in conjunction with industry experts and the Revo Educational Trust.
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