Jon Prest

My profile

Biography

A wide and varied career in retailing, insurance and market research. After completing a Master’s in Management Science (Operational Research) at Lancaster University I began to specialise in statistical analysis and was involved in a variety of projects around the globe.

I became a freelance market research consultant in 2001 and worked in the chemicals, logistics, financial services, public and charity sectors.

In 2011 I became a Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Analysis at Manchester Met. In this time I have taught across a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including Accounting & Finance, Economics, Business Management, HRM, Business Technology and Business Analytics.

I helped launch the Master’s programme in Business Analytics in 2013 and was the programme leader between 2016 and 2018. I have also provided statistical / analytical training to business and worked on a 3 year Data Analytics KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) for ACE Centre in Oldham. 

My central goal it is to improve the numerical and analytical skills of students coming through the faculty of Business & Law, to help ensure they are suitably equipped to thrive in a modern working environment. I am also a Carbon Literacy Champion.           

Teaching

I currently teach across a variety of courses in the Business School, utilising applications such as Excel and Power BI

Courses

Research outputs

My doctoral research focussed on the implementation of forecasting techniques in real world organisations 

  • Conference papers

    Prest, J.P. (2013) 'Dealing With a Dynamic World, Improving Panel-Based Forecasts: An Application of the Error Bootstrap Model.' In Forecasting, Monitoring, Controlling. Manchester Metropolitan University, London, UK, 19/8/2013 - 20/8/2013.

    Prest, J.P. (2011) 'The Role of the Individual in Implementing A Decision Support System.' In International Symposium on Forecasting. International Institute of Forecasting, Prague, 15/7/2011 - 15/7/2011.

    Prest, J.P. (2008) 'The Implementation of the Delphi Technique.' In International Symposium of Forecasting. International Institute of Forecasting, Nice, France, 15/7/2008 - 15/7/2008.

Career history

2011 onwards

Senior Lecturer in Quantitative Analysis at Manchester Met University

2008 to 2009

Assistant Director (part-time) at Heawood Research 

2003 to 2006

Research Consultant (part-time) at RCU Ltd

2001 to 2011

Freelance Market Research Consultant

1995 to 2001

Research Manager at Ci Research 

1993 to 1994

Pensions Administrator at Friends Provident

1991 to 1993

Claims Adjuster at AGF Insurance

1988 to 1989

Non-Food Merchandiser (Industrial Placement) at ASDA Stores