Start date: 1 October 2025

Government procurement is a significant driver of the global economy, with approximately $11 trillion spent annually, representing around 15% of global GDP. In the UK, procurement reached £407 billion in 2023, accounting for about one-third of the government’s budget. This substantial spending underscores the critical role of procurement in promoting public welfare and ensuring economic stability. As a result, a comprehensive understanding of the causes and consequences of this large-scale transfer of government funds to businesses is vital for business leaders, policymakers, and society.

This project aims to measure the impact of corporate/CEO communications on the ability to secure government contracts. Then the project will assess how the ability to win garment contracts affects corporate risk and future performance.

We seek a highly motivated PhD candidate to join this project that explores the interaction between corporate communication and government procurement process. You will be working under the guidance of two experienced researchers specializing in politics and finance. This project involves manual collection and processing of large datasets, and utilizes advanced econometric models alongside text analysis techniques.

Further information

The student will benefit from supervision by Dr Linxiang Ma, who is an expert in politics and finance. The second supervisor is Professor Dimitris Andriosopoulos, who is an expert in corporate finance and corporate governance and has experience in consultancy in the government procurement space.

The successful applicant will benefit from opportunities to participate in the International Accounting & Finance Doctoral Symposium and conference/workshop events hosted by ReBI where leading experts in the Responsible Business and Sustainable Finance space will be participating. ReBI hosts an annual conference of leading academics tied to special issues of internationally recognised and leading journals. Hence, the successful applicant will have multiple opportunities to present their work and receive feedback from leading academics.

The successful applicant will also be offered opportunities to visit international collaborators through the Financial Management Association (FMA) networks of the department. Finally, the successful applicant may have the chance to collaborate with industry experts and government agencies in related fields, enhancing your research with practical insights and real-world applications.