Lara Bianchi

A fully funded PhD opportunity is available at Nottingham Trent University, hosted by Nottingham Business School, in partnership with the University of Nottingham and Bennerley Viaduct. The project, 'Pride in Place, Voice in Practice: A Collaborative Study for Inclusive Regeneration in Nottinghamshire,' investigates how inclusive community engagement in regeneration can foster pride in place and sustainable change. Centred on Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, the research will work with local communities, organisations, and councils to co-create regeneration strategies, focusing on the Bennerley Viaduct and the new Cycle Path Network. The project aims to address post-industrial socio-economic decline, connectivity challenges, and the erosion of industrial identity, leveraging Levelling Up funding and participatory research methods. The successful candidate will use qualitative approaches such as focus groups, creative visual methods, and narrative interviews to explore how regeneration is enacted and experienced by diverse community groups. The research will generate actionable lessons for Kimberley and provide transferable insights for other towns. Applicants must qualify for UK Home Fee status; international students are not eligible. The studentship covers full tuition and a tax-free stipend of £20,780 per annum. The project is supervised by Dr Toke Bjerregaard (Nottingham Trent University), Dr Lara Bianchi (University of Nottingham), and John Scruton (Bennerley Viaduct). The application deadline is 30th November 2025, with a start date of 1st April 2026. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to community-engaged research, strong analytical and communication skills, and a background in social sciences or humanities. For more details and to apply, visit the Collaboratory Research Hub website.