Wylder Earth

As 2023 drew to a close, so too did Arca, a £1.4 million EU funded project of which I was Project Manager from 2021-2023. The project offered a range of training programmes to support businesses to transition to the circular economy.

The circular economy is a practical solution to global grand challenges of the 21st Century: climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity.  Traditional business models focus on taking raw materials from the Earth, making a product, and eventually throwing that product away as waste. This linear model is known as the ‘take-make-waste’ system. The circular economy offers a fresh approach that seeks to eliminate waste, circulate products, regenerate nature and deliver social justice.

As Project Manager, I oversaw all aspects of the project (compliance, finance, marketing, the design, development and delivery of circular economy training programmes) and led the core project team of five as well as co-ordinating a wider team of 35+ internal stakeholders, including 10+ academics from Sustainable Futures (the Business School in Penryn). We delivered on our targets a year ahead of schedule and considerably under budget which kept our funders happy!

Photo credit: Katie Riesner

The most rewarding aspect of the project was to use the skills and experience I’d gained over the years as a writer, radio producer and teacher to take complex academic ideas and make them accessible to businesses. I led on the design on the design and delivery of a range of training programmes, workshops and webinars which gave businesses the skills they needed to make transformative change.

‘Really insightful with lots of reflection on how to turn businesses and personal lives into circular and responsible models.’

Chai Fundanga, Sustainability Consultant

In total, the project supported over 160 businesses and 370 individuals to learn about and adopt circular practices. Mostly these were based in Cornwall, but through our online programmes we reached a global audience with businesses attending from Brazil, China, South Africa, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Vietnam, and Zambia.

‘We came away totally buzzing!’

Julian Mills, Architect STUDIO/gather

The project was delivered from University of Exeter’s Penryn campus in Cornwall, a region in the Southwest of England known for it’s rugged coastline, beautiful beaches and moorland. We wanted to make the most of the setting and get businesses out into the fresh air to create opportunities for relaxed and informal networking, as well as the chance to connect with nature which is the focus of circular economy practices.

Photo credit: Michelle Coxall

A key aim was to get businesses out and about to experience the circular economy in action. To do this, we carefully chose host venues such as Woodland Valley Farm (above), a local regenerative farm, and Newquay Orchard, a community garden that offers fresh food, training and a soulful space for local people. This gave our participants the opportunity to find out what was going on in their local business community and explore the circular economy in Cornwall.

Getting people together to share good quality food was another cornerstone of our delivery programme.

Photo credit: Katie Riesner

Our workshops and training programmes were underpinned by academic research. We carefully adapted complex, conceptual ideas into practical learning resources to engage businesses and enable them to deliver transformative change.

Photo credit: Katie Riesner

‘A very accessible and practical course about planning and implementing circularity into your business.’

Nicole Crozier, Circular Economy Programme Manager & Researcher