UK Academic Supply Chain Network event brings together 24 universities to shape the future of UK supply chains

Academics in discussion around tables during a UK supply chain network workshop.

More than 70 academics and researchers from 24 universities across the UK gathered at Loughborough University on 6 November for the inaugural UK Academic Supply Chain Network: Building Connections event.

Hosted by the UK SCALE Centre, the UK’s national convener for supply chain progress and innovation, and part of the MIT Global SCALE Network, the event brought together supply chain specialists to share expertise, strengthen collaboration, and establish the foundations for a new national academic network.

The programme featured a series of talks, workshops and interactive sessions designed to identify shared challenges, explore opportunities for collective action, and develop a unified academic voice to support UK industry, government and policy.

Guest speakers included:

  • Charlotte Robinson, Head of Innovation, Research and Experimentation for Defence Support at the UK Civil Service
  • Priyanka Pandya, Strategy and Policy Advisor for Supply Chain Resilience at the Department for Business and Trade
  • Dr Hangfei Guo, Reader in Supply Chain Management and Principal Investigator of the Reimagining Supply Chains Network Plus (RiSC+) at Queen’s University Belfast.
A speaker presents during the UK Academic Supply Chain Network event.

Dr Guo commented: “It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the UK and explore how supply chain expertise can better support national priorities. The discussions were rich, collaborative and forward-looking – a great foundation for building this new network.”

Workshops led by Professor Jan Godsell, Dean of Loughborough Business School and Director of the UK SCALE Centre, invited participants to co-create the long-term vision for the network. Using a theory-of-change framework, attendees explored how to align individual, institutional and national goals to accelerate progress in the supply chain field.

Professor Jan Godsell said: “This event marks the beginning of a genuinely connected UK supply chain community. By bringing together our strengths across institutions, we can develop the insight, evidence and innovation needed to tackle the complex supply chain challenges facing the UK.”

Attendees seated in a conference hall listening to a presentation during the UK Academic Supply Chain Network event.

The event concluded with participants identifying shared priorities and practical next steps to continue building momentum as the network develops further.

Academics and researchers who were unable to attend can still join the network and stay involved in future activities by completing the online form:

Join the UK Academic Supply Chain Network