Place adaptation and urban retrofit ‘on the move’: Urban policy mobilities and transnational planning for the climate emergency.

Information on the School/Research Group

The successful candidate will join the URBAN RETROFIT UK research project, a new £1.7m multi-university investment by the ESRC, based at the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence in the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy at the University of Glasgow. URBAN RETROFIT UK will investigate how cities can be planned, developed and ‘retrofitted’ for net-zero living and work with partners across all four nations of the UK and internationally to investigate place adaptation successes and challenges, including barriers to scaling up. This exciting new research project is part of a £9.5million investment by ERSC into five projects that will research place-based approaches for an environmentally sustainable future, providing evidence to support local and national decision making. In addition to their studies at the University of Glasgow, the successful doctoral candidate will have opportunities to develop their research internationally through the project’s research partnership with Dalhousie University in Canada, as well as with project partners at UK universities and in practice with planning, development and community stakeholders.

Project details

For centuries urban planners and policymakers have looked beyond national boundaries to identify innovative ‘best practices’ that might help address local policy challenges and create new policy networks with stakeholders in other cities and countries. The search for translatable urban policy solutions has been accelerated by the urgency of the climate emergency as local policy actors look globally for ‘fixes’ that can be readily adopted at the local level to support more sustainable development. The aim of this supervisor-led doctoral scholarship is to produce a new critical evidence base on the transferability of policies and practices geared towards place adaptation and urban retrofit by examining how and why place adaptation concepts and urban retrofit practices move between places and whether policies that work in one place can be successfully transferred to another. Using and developing critical theories on ‘urban policy mobility’, which conceptualise policy innovations as being ‘in motion’ and moving across and between national and cultural boundaries through dynamic human networks, the studentship will be an integral part of the wider URBAN RETROFIT UK research project which ultimately seeks to create a series of global evidence exchange hubs where planning and development stakeholders can come together to share emerging practices. Further refinement of the research questions, methodological approach and geographical focus of the studentship will be determined by the doctoral student in collaboration with the project supervisors as the project evolves. The successful candidate will be strongly encouraged to take ownership of the project and develop it to suit their skills and interests.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria

• Applicants will have a good Masters degree (or overseas equivalent) in urban plannning, geography or a related discipline
• Applicants will have a demonstratable interest in urban planning and the topic under investigation.
• Applicants should be able to study full-time

Please note that all applicants must also meet the entry requirements for the Urban Studies, PhD. 

Award details

The scholarship is available as a full-time +3 (3 year) PhD programme only. The programme will commence in October 2024. The funding includes:

• An annual stipend at the UKRI rate
• Fees at the standard home rate or International rate
• Students can also draw on a Research Training Support Grant, usually up to a maximum of £940 per year

Application process

Applicants must apply via the Scholarships Application Portal (please see Scholarships Application Portal – Applicant Guide for more information), uploading the following documentation:

• URBAN RETROFIT PhD Scholarship application form (in Word format)
• Academic transcripts (All relevant Undergraduate and Master’s level degree transcripts (and translations, if not originally in English) – provisional transcripts are sufficient if you are yet to complete your degree).
• Contact details for two referees (where possible your referees should include an academic familiar with your work (within the last 5 years). Both referees can be academics but you may include a work referee, especially if you have been out of academia for more than 5 years). Please note, a CoSS PGR Funding Reference template will be sent to your referees for completion)*.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (academic where applicable)

*Please note that when you enter your referees contact details on the Scholarships Application Portal and send the reference request, your referees are expected to provide their references by the closing date of the Scholarship (below). It is strongly recommended you complete this as soon as possible, as late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Closing Date: 15 July 2024

Selection process

Applications will be assessed by the project team. Shortlisted applicants may be requested to attend an Interview.

All scholarship awards are subject to candidates successfully securing admission to a PhD programme in the School of Social and Political Sciences. Successful applicants will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme after they are selected for funding.

Key contact

Professor James White (JamesT.White@glasgow.ac.uk)

Volunteer Experienced Fundraiser to support the restoration of historic Poltimore House | Poltimore House Trust

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Following a devastating fire at Poltimore House, we are urgently seeking an experienced fundraiser to help safeguard the structure of this historic mansion and to work towards its eventual restoration.

What difference will you make?

Our Board incorporates high levels of expertise and experience in construction, heritage, social innovation, communication, landscape design and other disciplines. Despite the recent disaster this is an exciting time to join our leadership team and to make a lasting impact on Poltimore House & Grounds. The House & Grounds are greatly valued by local communities, visitors and our volunteers, as well as by those who love historic buildings. You will not only play a key role in saving an important part of Devon’s heritage but will also help to realise an exciting vision for the future.

What are we looking for?

The ideal applicant will bring significant experience of working with major funding bodies, ideally in the heritage and community sectors, as well as in the field of philanthropic giving.

What will you be doing?

Poltimore House suffered a major fire following an arson attack in the early hours of 9th April 2024. Although much of the interior was destroyed, many of the most important Elizabethan, Tudor and Georgian architectural features remain although they require urgent protection to prevent further loss. The Board of Poltimore House Trust, a registered charity which owns the House and Grounds, is strongly committed to overcoming the major setback resulting from the fire. Unfortunately the House was uninsurable before the fire and our key priority is to secure new funding from grants, philanthropy and other sources. Therefore the Trust is urgently seeking an experienced fundraiser as a full member of its Board to help us safeguard the structure of this important 16th-18th Century mansion and, in due course, to support its restoration as a focal point for the community incorporating the arts, creative business, education, heritage and wellbeing. You will work alongside other Board members and volunteers in developing and delivering a staged recovery plan, leading in turn to a roadmap for the full restoration of the House. The role will involve close liaison with our architects as well as stakeholders such as Historic England, with whom we have a strong relationship.

Desired Skills and Experience

Fundraising research / Bid writing, Fundraising strategy

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust is a leading charitable organisation dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and sustainable development of Scotland’s historic buildings. Our mission is to safeguard architecturally and culturally significant buildings for future generations while ensuring they contribute to the vibrant life of our communities.

Our team has specialist skills in historic building preservation, fundraising, project management and property management. We also bring expertise in event management, building interpretation and in delivering educational programmes. So far, we have restored over 30 buildings and raised more than £30 million.

Following a recent review, we are seeking to appoint four additional trustees to join our strong and committed board. We are particularly interested in inspirational and dynamic applicants with experience in one or more of the following areas:

· Strategy development and leadership

· Property development

· Finance

· Heritage conservation

· Marketing

· Fundraising

· Asset management

By joining SHBT as a Trustee, you’ll have the unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Scotland’s historic landscape. Your professional expertise and passion for our built heritage will play a crucial role in shaping the future of our organisation and the preservation of Scotland’s history.

Trustees serve a term of three years, with the possibility of reappointment for a further three years. Successful applicants will be expected to attend four meetings a year, either at one of our own buildings or another site of interest and will have over-arching statutory duties in respect of governance. For more information on the work of SHBT please visit our website at www.shbt.org.uk. To apply, please send a summary CV together with a covering letter outlining how you will contribute to the Board to maggie.wright@mwa.co

Registered Charity number No. SC034507