Whilst we agree that it would be optimal to provide funding for more than 18 months this is the maximum length of funding we can manage given the constraints we are working within. The overall grant is for 33 months within which we must fit a 2-stage competition with mentoring for applicants, review of applications, creation of contracts for the 20+ funded awards, notice for funded awards prior to start date, and time after the awards end for completion of final reports and the capstone conference. To make the best use of the funded time, the deadline for the first stage of the funding competition is the day the grant officially starts. Hence, all advertising and applicant advising is taking place in addition to Rachel Kendal’s usual academic commitments and prior to grant-associated support staff being in place - your patience is therefore appreciated if responses to queries take a little time.