Nikki Ayles
Lecturer in Psychology
School of Psychology
Department of Performance, Health and Wellbeing
email: n.ayles@worc.ac.uk
Nikki started her career in Business, working as a brand and marketing Manager for Cadbury Ltd (managing Crunchie and Caramel); Kraft Foods Ltd (managing Philadelphia, Dairylea and Kenco) and in latter years she was Head of Brand at Barclaycard. Nikki also held consultancy roles within brand and consumer marketing consultancies. Throughout this ‘first’ career, Nikki drew heavily on her A Level and UG level studies in psychology, applying Consumer Psychology, Business Psychology and Coaching Psychology in her working practice. Over time, as Nikki’s passion for psychology took priority within her career aspirations, she made a shift towards psychology practice and gained further qualifications at Masters Level in both Psychology and Positive Psychology. Nikki now works part-time as a Psychology Lecturer at the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥, part time as a Business Psychology and Positive Psychology practitioner and consultant and is also currently completing a PhD in Positive Psychology (in Nature for Wellbeing) (part time) through Buckinghamshire New University.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Business and Marketing
- MSc Psychology
- MSc Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP)
Teaching
Nikki teaches mainly in her areas of expertise and passion – Positive Psychology, Business Psychology and Coaching Psychology and hence mainly teaches at Level 6 and Level 7. She also teaches on some core modules at Level 4, in areas of personal interest and knowledge such as Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology and Professional Skills Development.
Research Interests
Nikki’s research interests are focused in the areas of Positive Psychology and wellbeing. Nikki is particularly interested in applications of Positive Psychology to coaching; evaluation and evolution of PPIs (Positive Psychology Interventions), particularly those involving strengths and resilience; Wellbeing in the Workplace; ‘Third wave’ positive psychological approaches; and more recently Nature Connectedness as a pathway to human flourishing.
Recent Publications
Current/Live collaborative and solus research projects include:
- Evaluation study: Use of a VR intervention to improve Wellbeing in the Workplace (with the Wellbeing for Life Research Group at UoW)
- Experimental study : Savouring in Nature for Pro-Conservation outcomes (with Blaire Morgan and Daniel Farrelly at UoW)
- Exploratory study: Sensory and Emotional Experience in Nature (PhD at BNU)
Membership of Professional Bodies
- Accredited Master Strengths Coach (with StrengthScope®)
- Member of the International Society for Coaching Psychology (ISCP)
- Member of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)
- Fellow of the Positive Psychology Guild (PPG)
- Registered approved practitioner with the Positive Psychology Guild
- Fellow of the Institute for Training and Occupational Learning (iTOL)
- Accredited Mindfulness Teacher (with Mindfulness Now™)
- Associate Fellowship of Advance - HE
External Roles
As part of Nikki’s consultancy work, she has created and delivered many training workshops in the areas of wellbeing, strengths and resilience for groups large and small. She has worked with clients to develop wellbeing strategies for their employees and staff. As an L&D professional with over 12 years experience in this area of Business Psychology, Nikki has also designed, developed and delivered blended training programmes for large organisations such as Ferrero, Mars, Bayer, Tesco, Johnson&Johnson and the ONS in a number of functional and leadership capability areas. She coaches individuals in all areas of wellbeing including strengths, personal resilience and flourishing as well as in performance, leadership and professional development.