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As the global population continues to increase from 7.5bn (2019) to 9.5bn (2050) coupled with increased urbanisation and industrialisation we will need to better (re)utilise resources to sustain our chemical, material and energy needs. In 2015, the United Nations recognised these concerns and established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to protect the future of our planet and its inhabitants. In particular, SDG 12, "Sustainable Consumption and Production", focuses on better resource utilisation, resource recovery, doing 'more with less' and moving from linear to circular economies, which is recognised as strategically important by the UK government and industries. For example, the UK Chemistry Council's Chemicals sector Strategy (http://tiny.cc/mru3fz) highlights a greater emphasis on sourcing of renewable raw materials, ensuring products are free from pollutants and innovating to reduce their carbon footprint. The UK Industrial Strategy and DEFRA 25 Year Environment Plan both highlight circular, green economies and developing leadership. Recent Science Innovation Audits (Northern Powerhouse: Chemical and Process Sector Science http://tiny.cc/tsu3fz, and the Bioeconomy in the North of England http://tiny.cc/jwu3fz) highlight the importance of our chemicals and bioeconomy sectors, interconnectivity of chemistry and biology, the importance of training, re- and up-skilling, and continual professional development in physical and biological sciences. The chemicals sector is one of the largest UK manufacturing sectors with a turnover of £48.7bn and employs ca. 140,000 people and increasingly becoming more interdisciplinary. To be globally competitive, UK businesses will need to transform current manufacturing practices, which are often linear and resource-depleting, to those that are circular, resource efficient, and sustainable via re- and up-skilling its current workforce so as to accelerate impact. In partnership with industry, this project will develop and embed: 1. A highly re- and up-skilled cohort of research scientists with excellence and leadership in circular, resource efficient, sustainable manufacturing impacting current and future knowledge-driven business decisions in chemical- and allied-industries, thus, improving global sustainability. 2. Person specific doctoral learning contracts (PSDLC) designed to suit the needs of the individual, employer and academic supervisor. Often, a lack of clear understanding of expectations has been both a downfall and barrier for successful industrial PhDs in the past. Projects will be industrially-driven via our project partners, thereby accelerating innovation and boosting economic growth. 3. Support mechanisms that encourage peer learning and reflection via regular cohort meetings to discuss issues specific to the industrial students and identify areas for improvement. Similarly, a two-way buddy scheme (academic student/industrial student) will be implemented, allowing both to benefit from the other's experience. 4. New (and extended current), flexible, credit-bearing in-house and virtual CPD modules to reflect specific needs. For example, training modules in change management, business strategy and responsible research innovation will be developed and delivered. 5. Mechanisms that reward prior experiential learning so as to fast track doctoral training will be investigated and incorporated in bespoke PhD programmes. 6. Proactive stakeholder working groups comprising project partners (industry and professional bodies), who will meet quarterly for the first two years to continue to de-risk barriers, innovate and disseminate the benefits of this programme both internally and externally to their organisation. 7. Structures and mechanisms will be put in place that encourage recruitment, retention and progression of under-represented minorities, such as, BAME, and respect equality, diversity and inclusion
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