PhD Studentship: Building Resilient Circular Economy Supply Chains in the Fashion and Textile Industry

Project advert

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. The project offers an excellent foundation for pursuing an academic career in marketing, management or sustainability research or a practice-oriented career in industry consultancy, innovation, or policy development.

This PhD project is one of five independent projects open for applications, with only three funded studentships available. All applications will go through an initial review stage conducted by the project supervisors. Candidates selected from this stage will be invited to a second-round interview, where final funding decisions will be made based on performance across all projects.

Project aims and objectives

• Map key players in the fashion/textile sector and explore how they interact with various stakeholders.
• Identify characteristics that enable collaboration on circular economy (CE) initiatives. 
• Explore how businesses build and balance relationships with multiple stakeholders locally and internationally to achieve sustainability goals. 
• Study the factors that support long-term, effective collaboration for CE initiatives. 
• Investigate how firms maintain and evolve relationships over time for continued cooperation. 
• Use qualitative case studies to gain in-depth insights into how businesses interact and mobilise resources for sustainability and circular economy efforts. 

Funding

Both Home and International students can apply. Home and international tuition fees will be covered for the duration of the three-year award.

The student will receive a standard stipend payment for the duration of the award. These payments are set at a level determined by the UKRI, currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025/26.

Specific requirements of the candidate

Applications are invited from candidates with backgrounds in management, marketing, strategy, supply chain, economics, sustainability, fashion/design, or related disciplines with an interest in sustainability and B2B marketing.

How to apply

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Katy Zafari (K.Zafari@mmu.ac.uk) for an informal discussion. 

To apply you will need to complete the online application form for a full time PhD in Marketing.

Please complete the Doctoral Project Applicant Form, and include your CV to demonstrate how your skills and experience map to the aims and objectives of the project, the area of research and why you see this area as being of importance and interest. 

Please ensure that your application also includes your Academic Certificates and Transcripts as supporting documents.

Please upload these documents in the supporting documents section of the University’s Admissions Portal.

Applications closing date: 02 March 2026 

Expected start date: October 2026

Please quote the reference: FoBL-KZ-2026-27-Resilient Circular Economy 

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