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For the believers and the builders
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An open call for UK dynamism
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The UK can once again be the most dynamic country in the world.
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How many of us today believe that is possible?
That despite the cynicism, this country is special.
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That while our history is imperfect, so much progress in science, institutions, and culture began on these shores. And that instead of fighting over how to redistribute the present, we should be building an incredible future.
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Yes, everyone can feel we’re stuck. Payslips don’t go far beyond the basics. Town centres fall quiet before last orders. Rivers are polluted with impunity. And now a whole generation has never experienced a thriving economy, and has too little stake in the one we have today.
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We need to change our trajectory. Our economy has bright spots, but too often is paralysed by process, caution and the elimination of risk. Our state capacity is not keeping pace with the demands of the AI era. Our culture dwells on nostalgia, while happily cutting down ambition instead of rewarding success. To escape the status quo, we must prioritise excellence, speed and growth.
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Our inheritance is one long, unbroken
project of national renewal.
Now it’s our turn.
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UKDF will rally, fund and support the
believers: people rebuilding a dynamic
country in control of our destiny.
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We will initially focus on:
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Talent programmes to raise the agency and ambition of others
- Agency can be learned. Mentors and role models can help develop it, and peer groups can elevate it.
- Talented people go where they can fulfil their ambitions. The UK should be that place.
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Science and technology to rebuild national agency and expand the possibility frontier
- The UK made our mark as pioneers, but now too many researchers are slowed by bureaucracy, and too many engineers are consulting, not building.
- We must build our stake in the AI economy to remain in control of our future.
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Institutions and policies to revive government, the wider state and our economy
- We need better ideas, but also better talent and technologies to execute them.
- Renewal needs competition and creativity. We need new institutions to challenge the status quo, and incumbents to adapt or fall away.
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Aesthetics, culture and media to win the argument for dynamism
- Culture shapes the pace of progress. Ambition, beauty and collective purpose – and the spaces that enable them – are foundations for dynamism.
- For dynamism to achieve popular take-off, we need new platforms that build distribution, not just new stories that broadcast to no one.
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How to apply:
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UKDF will fund and support individuals and organisations that:
- Believe the UK can be the most dynamic country in the world.
- Have already shown they can excel and hustle.
- Have an ambitious proposal to build UK dynamism, especially in the areas above.
We will focus initially on two types of funding:
Fellowships, to support people with a track record of excellence to develop or incubate a new project. Fellowships can be tailored to all stages, from early-career to senior leaders.
Grants, to individuals and organisations who know what they need to build, or to talent scouts in different regions and sectors who have an eye for potential.
Most of our initial grants will be up to £50k. But we are flexible in how we fund, so if you’re on the fence, at the ideas stage, or have something bigger in mind, we’d love to hear from you.
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And stay updated:
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Team:
UKDF is led by Andrew Bennett, anchor funded by XTX Markets, and is being incubated by Renaissance Philanthropy.
We are supported by a network of advisors, grantees and scouts, who help shape our strategy, and find people and ideas with high potential, including:
- Matt Clifford
- Tyler Cowen
- Mat Dryhurst
- Ronit Kanwar
- Adam Marblestone
- Kitty Mayo
- Munira Mirza
- David Thomas
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UKDF is non-partisan and does not fund any party-political activities.
We do fund activities that develop policies to build UK dynamism, which we’d love every party to adopt.