We believe that education is the single most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequality in the world. We invest in the education of the underprivileged and the underrepresented in order to create systemic change.

Our goal is to develop a new generation of engaged global citizens and leaders; who embrace research, make data-driven decisions and believe that there is a moral imperative to act with integrity.

We currently support 5 programmes:

1. Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme – an international programme supporting undergraduates in 17 top universities around the world, designed to develop a new generation of leaders who are skilled researchers, embrace data-based decision-making, and believe it is a moral imperative to lead with integrity.
2. Women’s Business Education Laidlaw Scholarship – The Foundation runs two different initiatives to ensure that we have more women leaders in business. By investing in extraordinary women to gain their MBAs, the Foundation intends to give women the education and networks to achieve equal representation and power on executive and non-executive Boards. To date, we have helped over 300 women earn their MBA from Columbia Business School, London Business School and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, providing full and half scholarships to women who would not otherwise be in a position to reap the benefits of attending these outstanding institutions. A new initiative, in partnership with Trinity Access Programmes, aims to help the most disadvantaged, excluded, and disempowered women undertake higher education, nurture their business instincts, and develop sustainable careers. The Pathways for Women in Business programme will bring ten diverse women from lower socio-economic groups into Trinity College Dublin each year, many of whom will be the first generation of their families to go to university.
3. The Laidlaw Schools Trust – the Foundation established and continues to support strategically and financially the Laidlaw Schools Trust, a growing multi-academy trust in the North East of England. It was founded to transform the lives of children and communities through inspirational education. We now support over 5500 children from nursery to sixth form, at eight academies in Newcastle, Sunderland and Sedgefield, and are set to grow further.
4. Laidlaw Scholars Ventures – a for-profit initiative investing in start-ups founded and run by Laidlaw Scholars. Backed by $50m, LSV accelerates Good Businesses by financing their growth, providing support services, delivering extensive training and development, and bringing a network of expert advisors and mentors to guide portfolio businesses. All profits from LSV will be returned to the Foundation to invest in its educational programmes.
5. Buildings – we help students, academic leaders and local communities connect, collaborate, learn and excel by re-inventing traditional libraries and learning spaces. The Foundation has funded the Laidlaw Music Centre at the University of St Andrews, built the Laidlaw Library at Leeds University, and opened a new, state-of-the-art Teaching and Leadership Centre at Sedgefield Community College. Now, we are planning a new inclusion centre in Sedgefield to serve the needs of neurodivergent young people in Durham County.