The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Geospatial Systems was established in 2019 with a vision to establish an internationally recognised centre of excellence and an ambition to graduate 50 doctoral students across five annual cohort intakes. Since that time, the CDT has been delivered through a strategic partnership between Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham in the UK, together with c. 40 external partners from global academia, international industry and UK Government. The first doctoral students graduated from the CDT in July 2024, with the final students expected to complete their PhD studies in 2028. This paper provides an overview of the training structure and skills development initiatives implemented and offers critical reflections on the experiences and challenges encountered throughout the CDT’s lifetime to date (February 2026). While the content will be of particular interest to academics and stakeholders involved in any branch of geospatial doctoral training, many of the findings are transferable. As such, the insights presented may also be of value to the wider academic community, particularly those considering the establishment of similar cohort-based doctoral training models.