Cardiff School of Management>Staff>Dr Nicola Bolton

Dr Nicola Bolton

Head of Department – Marketing and Strategy 

Telephone number: 029 2041 6484
Email address: njbolton@cardiffmet.ac.uk​

Dr Niki Bolton is the Head of Department for Marketing and Strategy in the Cardiff School of Management.  

She joined the Cardiff School of Management in September 2019.  Prior to that she was seconded for three years to the Quality Enhancement Directorate, undertaking work with international partners.  She has also worked for the Cardiff School of Sport where she undertook a variety of roles including: School Co-ordinator for Strategy and External Engagement; Programme Director for MA Sport Management and Leadership; and Discipline Director Co-ordinator. 

Niki has experience of working in the sport industry sector and for local government.  She has drawn on her professional experience alongside her research interests and has led on several significant external projects including: Calls for Action; Young People's Programme Review, Free Swimming, Leisure Lifestyles of Young People and Market Segments' Review.  She maintains strong industry links, being a Director for British Gymnastics and the British Gymnastic Foundation and has been a member of the Sport Wales Board.

Niki is a Senior Fellow of the HEA and fellow of CIMSPA.  She has six PhD students and her research interests lie in strategy, policy, governance and evaluation. 

Research / Publications

Nicola has research interests in public policy, sport policy and sport management; strategy and governance; and sport development.  Her research has an applied focus and she is interested in multi-disciplinary research.

Academic Journal Papers

Bryant, A., Bolton, N. and Fleming, S. (2016, in press) Extracurricular Sport and Physical Activity  in Welsh Secondary Schools: Leisure Lifestyles and Young People, Journal of Physical Education and Sports Management.

Lord, R., Bolton, N., Fleming, S. and Anderson, M. (2016, in press) "Telephone interviewing on lifestyles, sport, exercise and physical activity: methodological reflections, Management Research Review, (MRR – 01 – 2015 – 0020.R1).

Leyshon, A., Bolton, N. and Fleming, S. (2015) "This is awesome miss. It is safe. We don't do this with any other teacher." Classroom activities to listen to pupils, Educational Futures, 7 (1), 56-75.

Anderson, M., Bolton, N., Davies, G. and Fleming, S. (2014) Local implementation of national policy: a case-study critique of the Free Swimming Initiative for the 60 plus population, Managing Leisure, Vol 19, No 2, 151-165. DOI: 10.1080/13606719.2013.859456.

Bolton, N. and Martin, S. (2012) The policy and politics of free swimming, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Vol 5, No 3, 445-463. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2012.656689.

Leyshon, A., Bolton, N., Fleming, S., Hughes, R., Mattingley, R. and Rotchell, J. (2009) Young people’s participation in Extra-Curricular School Sport and Physical Activity: an Analysis of Wales’ ’5x60’ Initiative, 2007-2009.  Physical Education Matters, 5 (3): 36. 

Bolton, N., Elias, B. & Fleming, S. (2008) The experience of community sport development: a case study of Blaenau Gwent. Managing Leisure, 13, 2, 92-103. DOI: 10.:1080/13606710801933446.

Bolton, N., Fleming, S. & Galdes, M. (2007) Physical activity programmes for secondary schools in Wales: implications from a pilot scheme. Managing Leisure, 12, 74-88. DOI:10.1080/13606710601071579.

Bolton, N. & Fleming, S. (2007) Modernising local government: the impact of new political arrangements on Chief Officers for leisure and recreation in Wales. Local Government Studies, 33, 5, 723-742. DOI: 10.1080/03003930701627415.

Bolton, N. and Leach, S. (2002) Strategic planning in local government: a study of organisational impact and effectiveness Local Government Studies 28, 4, 1-21.

Bolton, N. and Chalkley, B. (1990) The rural population turnround: a case study of North Devon.  Journal of Rural Studies 6 (1): 29-43.

Bolton, N. and Chalkley, B. (1989) Counter-urbanisation – disposing of the myths. Town and Country Planning 58 (9).

Formal Reports and Other Research Publications

Leyshon, A., Bolton, N. and Fleming, S. (2012) The 5X60 Initiative: illustrative case studies 2007-2009, Cardiff: Cardiff Metropolitan University / Sport Wales.
Bolton, N., Lord, R., Anderson, M., Fleming, S., Miles, A., Hall, R. and Wall, M. (2011a) Report on Sport Wales’ market segments, Cardiff, Cardiff: InVest, Cardiff School of Sport.
Bolton, N. and Lord, R., Anderson, M., Fleming, S., Miles, A., Hall, R. And Wall, M. (2011b) Market segment Analysis, Cardiff, Cardiff: InVest, Cardiff School of Sport.
Bolton, N., Martin, S., Anderson, M., Smith, B. and Jennings, C. (2008) Free swimming: an evaluation of the Welsh Assembly Government’s initiative, Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales. 
Bolton, N., Anderson, M., Smith, B. and Jennings, C. (2007a) Evaluation of WAG’s free swim initiative 2004-2007 – fifth interim report,  Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N., Anderson, M., Smith, B. and Jennings, C. (2007b) Evaluation of WAG’s free swim initiative 2004-2007 – 60+ Case Study of Blaenau Gwent – fourth interim report,  Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N., Shami, R., Anderson, M., Smith, B. and Jennings, C. (2007) Evaluation of WAG’s free swim initiative 2004-2007 – developing disability sport – fourth interim report, Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N. and Galdes, M. (2006) Evaluation of the secondary school sport pilot, Wales, 2004-05: Final Report.  Cardiff: Invest, University of Wales Institute Cardiff.
Bolton, N., Anderson, M., Smith, B. and Jennings, C. (2006) Evaluation of WAG’s free swim initiative 2004-2007 – third interim report,  Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N., Anderson, M., Smith, B. and Jennings, C. (2005) Evaluation of WAG’s free swim initiative 2004-2007 – second interim report,  Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N., Smith, B., Jennings, C. and Wall, M. (2005) Evaluation of WAG’s free swim initiative 2004-2007 – first interim report,  Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N. (1999) Best Value Performance Plan. Newport County Borough Council.
Bolton, N. and Murray, K. (1996) Sport and recreation for people with learning difficulties: a pilot project. Cardiff City Council.
Bolton, N., (1995) Strategic planning in local government: a case study of Cardiff City Council.  Unpublished thesis submitted to University of Birmingham. ​
Bolton, N. (1994) The future of leisure in Cardiff – Cardiff Leisure Strategy.  Cardiff City Council.
Bolton, N., (1993) Leisure strategy: the future of leisure in Cardiff: asking for your views.   Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales.
Bolton, N., (1989) Countryside sport and recreation in The Sports Council for Wales, Changing times: changing needs: a strategy review,   Cardiff: Sports Council for Wales. 

Contributions to Edited Books

Bolton, N. and Smith, B. (2013) Sports development for coaches in R. L. Jones and K. Kingston, An introduction to sports coaching: connecting theory to practice, London: Routledge.
Bolton, N. (2010) Promoting participation and inclusion? The free swimming initiative in Wales, in M. Collins (Ed) Examining sports development, London: Routledge.
Bolton, N. and Smith, B. (2008) Sport development for coaches in R. L. Jones, M. Hughes and K. Kingston (Eds) An introduction to sports coaching: from science and theory to practice, London: Routledge.

Teaching and Supervision

Nicola is a Senior Fellow of the HEA.  In 2009 she designed and launched the MA in Sport Management and Leadership which works with mid-career professionals as well as immediate graduates and international students. Prior to this she was the Discipline Director Co-ordinator for the subject groups within the School as well as the Discipline Director for Sport Management and Development.
Her teaching is currently focused on postgraduate students and she is the module leader for Organisational Strategy 
She is a mentor for the PgCTHE and an Internal Reviewer for the Quality Standards Unit at Cardiff Met University.

PhD and MPhil Supervised Completions
Maria Galdes (2013) Social exclusion and crime: a critical exploration of sport and its role in crime reduction among adults. PhD: Cardiff Metropolitan University. Director of Studies: Dr Nicola Bolton. Co-supervisor: Dr Bill Davies.

Anna Leyshon (2011) Physical activity, extracurricular sport and the ‘5x60’ initiative: Leisure lifestyles and young people in Wales, 2007-2009.  PhD: University of Wales/UWIC. Director of Studies: Dr Nicola Bolton. Co-supervisor: Professor Scott Fleming.

Melissa Anderson (2011) The barriers to physical activity for the 60+ population in Wales: A critical examination of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Free Swimming Initiative. MPhil: University of Wales /UWIC.  Director of Studies: Dr Nicola Bolton. Co-supervisor: Dr Bill Davies.

Current PhD Supervisions
Steve Osborne – A critical exploration of the entrepreneurial orientation of managers within the UK sport industry.  Cardiff Metropolitan University. Commenced 2012, expected completion 2019. Director of Studies: Dr Nicola Bolton. Co-supervisor: Dr Nic Matthews, University of Gloucester.

Lana Evans - An examination of sport policy in relation to the use of the Welsh language in community settings among young people     Cardiff Metropolitan University. Commenced October 2013, expected completion 2016.   Supervisors: Dr Nicola Bolton, Professor Carwyn Jones, and Hywel Iorwerth.

Liz Wright - Tolkien's Leaders: Combining Fantasy Literature with Leadership Theory and Experience to Stimulate a New Leadership Development Model for Today's Leaders.  Cardiff Metropolitan University.  Commenced 2015, expected completion 2018. Director of Studies: Dr Dimitra Fimi. Supervisor: Dr Nicola Bolton. 

Qualifications and Awards

MBA (Distinction) University of Birmingham, School of Public Policy
PhD University of Plymouth, Department of Geographical Sciences
B.A. (Hons. 2:1) Geography, University of Sussex

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management for Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)         

External Links

Nicola has strong links with external organisations and has been involved in enterprise projects, governance and professional practice.

Enterprise

Nicola has considerable experience of developing bids and managing contracted enterprise and research projects. In 2015 she linked up with UK RCS who were selected to undertake the research evaluation for Calls For Action. This is a Sport Wales' funded programme which will operate until 2018.
For each project detailed below Nicola had lead responsibility for the bid documentation and project management which included performance reporting, budgeting and managing staff. 

Market Segments Research Project
Commissioned by and value of contract: Sport Wales - £15K.
Principal investigator and project manager: Dr Nicola Bolton
Research Assistant: Rhiannon Lord
Research Team: Scott Fleming, Rhiannon Lord, Melissa Anderson, Andy Miles, Mike Wall, Rebecca Hall

Welsh Assembly Government, evaluation of Free Swimming Initiative
Commissioned by and value of contract: Welsh Government, £193K
Principal investigator and project manager: Dr Nicola Bolton
Evaluation / Research Assistant: Melissa Anderson
Research Team: Melissa Anderson, Bev Smith, Chris Jennings and Professor Steve Martin (advisor)

‘5x60’ School Sport
Commissioned by and value of contract: Sport Wales, £40K
Director of Studies: Dr Nicola Bolton
Appointment of researcher: Anna Bryant (Leyshon)
Steering Group: Dr Nicola Bolton and Professor Scott Fleming (Cardiff Met); Rachel Hughes, Rebecca Mattingley and Julie Rotchell (Sport Wales); Cheryl McNamee and Yvonne Hughes (Local Authority).

 Sport Wales evaluation of Secondary School Sport Pilot
Commissioned by and value of contract: Sport Wales, 15K
Principal Investigator and project manager: Dr Nicola Bolton
Research Assistant: Maria Galdes

Contributions to Other Enterprise Projects

  • CSS Mentoring Programme
  • Do Activity Stay Health (DASH) – Somerset Physical Activity Evaluation
  • Invited tutor: WRU Management and Coaching Programme
  • Facilitator, ACE UK – Cardiff University

External Bodies

Nicola has extensive experience of working with sports organisations and their boards. She is currently:

  • Non-executive director for British Gymnastics and British Gymnastics Foundation and sits on the Remuneration and Investment Committees. 
  • Member of CIMSPA (having been a member of the earlier professional bodies of ISPAL ,ILAM and NASD) and currently sits on the Welsh Board.

Other organisational representative roles include:

  • Mentor to Sport Wales’ Women and Leadership programme
  • Appointed member to the Sports Council for Wales
  • Chair of Sports Council for Wales South East Regional Committee, Outdoor Activities Task and Finish Group, Vice Chair of the Community Investment Panel
  • Chair of Welsh Lacrosse Association
  • Chair of Development for the Welsh Lacrosse Association
  • Board member of ISPAL
  • Board member of NASD

External Examining
Manchester Metropolitan University Business School

Sport / Coaching Profile

A Welsh International Lacrosse player for 12 years, Nicola captained the team from 1990-1992. 
She received, player of the Home International series, in 1989.