Professor receives Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution to retail research
A University of Gloucestershire professor has received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award recognising his outstanding and enduring contribution to retail research and scholarship.
Professor Neil Towers, who retired from University of Gloucestershire in January 2026 following more than a decade at the University, was presented with the award at the Colloquium on European Research in Retailing (CERR 2026), held in Linz, Austria.
The award recognises Professor Towers’ “outstanding and enduring contributions to retail research and scholarship” over a distinguished academic and professional career spanning more than three decades.
Professor Towers (pictured) joined University of Gloucestershire in 2014 and has established an international reputation for research exploring the relationship between retail marketing and operations management, particularly in supply chain management, agile fashion retailing, sourcing and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Before joining University of Gloucestershire, he was Director of the George Davies Centre for Retail Excellence at Heriot-Watt University and Programme Director for its MSc International Fashion Marketing. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in manufacturing and worked with major retailers and brands including Marks & Spencer, Per Una, Johnstons of Elgin, Schuh, and Waitrose.
During his time at University of Gloucestershire, Professor Towers held a number of research leadership roles, including leading the University’s Applied Business and Technology Research Priority Area, and contributed to major international research projects.
Professor Towers said: “It is a tremendous honour to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award from the CERR community. Retail is an extraordinarily dynamic subject area, and it has been a privilege throughout my career to work with researchers, students and industry partners to explore the changes shaping the sector.
“I’m particularly pleased that this award recognises the value of sustained research and collaboration, and I’m grateful to the many colleagues and research partners I have worked with over the years.”
Professor Cathia Jenainati, Executive Dean for the School of Business, Computing and Social Sciences at University of Gloucestershire, said: “We are immensely proud to see Neil’s outstanding contribution to retail research recognised with this Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Throughout his time at UoG, Neil made a significant contribution to our research community, combining academic rigour with a strong commitment to research that engages with industry and delivers real-world impact.
“This award is a fitting recognition of the international standing and enduring impact of Neil’s work, and reflects the high-quality research and scholarship that he helped to foster within the School.”
CERR brings together researchers from across Europe and beyond to share research and encourage debate on contemporary issues affecting retailing.