Rob Bailey PhD

Strategy and commercial consultant to the sport, leisure, hotel, hospitality, culture, and visitor economy sectors | University lecturer (FHEA)

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

About

Hello - I am a sport, leisure, and tourism sector strategy and commercial consultant, and university lecturer. My career spans three decades. As a management consultant: I provide strategic, commercial, and economic development advice across the following sectors: • Visitor attractions. • Hotels. • Conference and event venues. • Sport stadia and community leisure facilities. • Commercial leisure venues, bars, and restaurants. • Major sporting, business, and cultural events. • Place-based economic development and regeneration. I have advised public, private, and charitable sector clients for over 30 years completing consulting engagements throughout the UK and internationally. I help clients make evidence-based decisions that seek to optimise commercial performance and economic benefits through: • Strategic and commercial planning. • Market and financial feasibility analysis. • Options appraisals and business case development. • Business planning. • Commercial appraisals. • Economic impact assessments. My clients include local authorities, sub-regional bodies such as combined authorities, Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, commercial operators, property investors and developers, universities and colleges, charitable trusts, and other consultants. I held senior roles across the following consultancies, all of which involved advising on leisure, hospitality, and tourism sector projects in the UK and internationally: • 2018 to present: Director, RJB Sport, Leisure and Tourism Consulting Ltd, Sheffield. • 2008-2018: Director, Five Lines Consulting, Manchester. • 2007-2008: Director, Tribal Group plc (economic development team), Manchester. • 2000-2007: Director, KPMG (consulting and transaction services), London and Manchester. • 1999-2000: Senior Associate, Economics Research Associates, London. • 1994-1999: Consultant, Deloitte, London and St. Albans. University lecturing experience: From 2018 to 2024, I was a part-time Senior Lecturer in sport business management at Sheffield Hallam University. I was nominated for 'Inspirational Teacher of the Year' during each of my years at Hallam. I have also delivered lectures, seminars, and other sessions at Manchester Metropolitan University, Lancaster University, Nottingham Trent University, César Ritz Colleges (Switzerland), and Stenden University (Netherlands). Additional interests: I'm a UEFA B Licenced football coach with the FA Youth Award. Between 2013-2022 and 2022-2024, I coached across various age groups and development phases within Sheffield United Academy.

Experience

  • Director at RJB Sport, Leisure and Tourism Consulting Ltd
    Jul 2018 - Present · 8 yrs

    RJB Sport, Leisure and Tourism Consulting Ltd was founded by Rob Bailey in July 2018. Rob provides strategic, commercial, and economic development advice and support to clients from across the public, private, and not-for-profit/charity sectors. Rob works across the sport, leisure, hotel, hospitality, culture, and tourism sectors both in the UK and internationally.

  • Masters (MRes) student supervisor at York St. John University
    Feb 2026 - Present · 5 mos

    Supervising York Business School MRes students (as a casual academic).

  • Emerging Talent Centre Coach (part-time/casual) at Sheffield United Football Club
    Aug 2022 - Aug 2024 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    I was a part-time/casual coach within the Academy's Emerging Talent programme. I coached within the youth phase.

  • Senior Lecturer (part-time) at Sheffield Hallam University
    Sep 2018 - Feb 2024 · 5 yrs 6 mos

    I was a part-time senior lecturer on the MSc and BSc courses in Sport Business Management. I taught, module led, and supervised projects on the finance and sport business consulting modules. I also gave guest lectures and supervised consultancy projects on Sheffield Business School courses.

  • Academy coach, Emerging Talent coach, Development Centre coach (part-time/casual) at Sheffield United Football Club
    Aug 2013 - Jul 2020 · 7 yrs

    I started coaching within the Club's development and Emerging Talent programmes before coaching within the Academy's foundation and youth phases.