PhD in Strategy

One of the major challenges in achieving sustainability and advancing the circular economy (CE) lies in enabling effective collaboration and coordination within complex supply chains. This issue is particularly acute in the fashion and textile sector, characterised by fragmented networks, high SME participation, complications of subcontracting, the presence of informal economies and frequent disruptions due to changes in policies and regulations, geopolitical instability, resource scarcity, and technological change. This PhD will explore how business-to-business relationship management capabilities can strengthen resilience and resource mobilisation across the supply chain. The research will investigate interactions among companies and their wider ecosystem - including policymakers, not-for-profits, technology providers, and universities - to identify relational strategies that foster sustainable and circular practices. The successful candidate will develop deep expertise in building B2B supply chain relationships, collaboration, stakeholder engagement and circular economy strategies, contributing to both academic theory and practical industry transformation. Location: Manchester This PhD project is one of five independent projects open for applications, with only three funded studentships available. Expected start date: October 2026