Research publication
The shift to a more circular economy (CE) presents a range of opportunities for the UK manufacturing sector. As part of this transition, existing job roles will evolve and new roles will emerge, placing a new emphasis on the skills required to support circularity. Despite growing attention to the need for a circular skills agenda, there is limited empirical research into the capabilities that manufacturers need to embed circularity into their businesses and the barriers they face in doing so. This paper explores the drivers, enablers, and barriers to the development of circular skills across UK manufacturing. Drawing on 45 interviews with industry and academic stakeholders, the study develops a taxonomy of circular skills across four themes: systems thinking, design for circularity, data and digital, and cross-sector collaboration. The findings also identify key challenges related to short-term commercial priorities, limited awareness, and a lack of institutional support. The paper concludes with a set of practical recommendations for industry, education providers, and policymakers to accelerate the integration of circular skills into the UK’s manufacturing workforce.
Skills for a Circular Economy in High-Integrity Manufacturing
University of Exeter, Cranfield University, University of Strathclyde
Sustainability (MDPI), Volume 16, Issue 15, 2024
Ryan Nolan, Fiona Charnley, Esmaeil Khedmati-Morasae, Peter Hopkinson, Okechukwu Okorie, Halid Abu-Bakar