What IPPR does

IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) is an independent UK registered charity and progressive think tank founded in 1988 and headquartered in London, with regional operations through IPPR North (Manchester, launched 2004) and IPPR Scotland (Edinburgh, launched 2014). It conducts and publishes policy research across the UK economy, health, environment, migration, democracy, social security, and international affairs, serving UK government departments, policymakers, politicians, businesses, academics, and the general public. The organisation is led by Executive Director Harry Quilter-Pinner and is governed by an independent board of trustees; it explicitly does not accept funding from political parties and operates with documented research independence from funders.

The organisation's core deliverable is policy research output — reports, briefing notes, blog posts, and the IPPR Progressive Review journal — delivered through a structure of permanent centres and programmes: the Centre for Economic Justice, Centre for Health and Prosperity, Centre for Geopolitics and International Policy (winner of the "Convenor of the Year" Smart Thinking Award in 2025), the Fair Transition Unit, the Migration Policy Unit, the "A Decade of National Renewal" programme, the Regional Growth Programme, and the IPPR Inclusion Taskforce. It does not develop proprietary technology or software; its underlying infrastructure is its research library (ippr.org), an active convening function (roundtables, conferences, party-conference fringe events), a digital and social media presence, The Progressive Insider newsletter, and a podcast/video content footprint. The organisation also runs an incubation pipeline that has produced independent entities such as Centre for Cities (spun out 2007), Frontline, Think Ahead, The Difference, and Workwhile.

IPPR's revenue model is a diversified charity funding stack: charitable trusts and foundations, businesses, trade unions, voluntary sector organisations, local and national government departments, and individual donors, supplemented by an organisational partnership programme (paid access to briefings, events, and receptions) and an individual affiliate programme (regular donations in exchange for event invitations and newsletters). Named major funders include Open Society Foundations, Laudes Foundation, and the Hewlett Foundation, alongside corporate partners such as McDonald's for the State of a Generation programme. IPPR has been awarded the highest transparency rating ("A") by the "Who Funds You?" project and a four-star "broadly transparent" rating by Transparify; it does not disclose audited income figures publicly.

Name

IPPR

Legal name

Institute for Public Policy Research

Website

https://ippr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) is an independent UK charity and progressive think tank founded in 1988, producing policy research on the economy, health, environment, migration, democracy, and international affairs for government, business, and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable donations and grants: IPPR operates as an independent registered charity that relies on donations and grants from charitable trusts, foundations, businesses, unions, voluntary sector organisations, local government, national government departments, and individuals. They never accept money from political parties, and all research remains independent of both political parties and funders.
2. Partnership programme: IPPR runs a partnership programme for organisations that provides access to briefings, events and receptions, allowing businesses and civil society to engage with policymakers and contribute to progressive policy agendas. Partners pay to support IPPR's work and gain thought leadership opportunities.
3. Individual donations and affiliate programme: Personal contributions from individuals support IPPR's core work. Individuals can become affiliates by setting up regular donations, receiving invitations to public events, regular e-newsletters, and soft copies of major reports.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IPPR is an independent registered charity that produces and publishes progressive public policy research and analysis across the UK. It sells access to this work through research publications, the IPPR Progressive Review journal, an events programme, a monthly newsletter, and paid organisational partnerships. Its offerings are aimed at policymakers, politicians, businesses, civil society, academics, and the general public interested in progressive policy ideas.

Product overview

IPPR is an independent charity and progressive think tank that offers research publications, policy analysis, events programming, and a journal (IPPR Progressive Review). The organization is structured around major research programmes including the Centre for Economic Justice, Centre for Health and Prosperity, Centre for Geopolitics and International Policy, Fair Transition Unit, Migration Policy Unit, A Decade of National Renewal, the IPPR Inclusion Taskforce, and the Regional Growth Programme. IPPR operates through regional branches (IPPR North and IPPR Scotland) and incubates initiatives such as Workwhile. Core offerings include published research, analysis, events, and the Progressive Insider newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IPPR North: Regional think tank focused on devolution and regional inequality in England's north
• IPPR Scotland
• IPPR Progressive Review
• Workwhile
• The IPPR Inclusion Taskforce

Products and services

• Research Publications Reports, briefing notes, blog posts, and policy analysis produced by IPPR's researchers and thematic centres, freely accessible via the online research library for policymakers, politicians, businesses, civil society, academics, and the public.
• IPPR Progressive Review

Quantifiable outcome

• IPPR analysis found UK business investment is second lowest in G7 at 11.1% of GDP, with a 38% capital gap compared to peer countries.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• WorkwhileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkwhile is an innovative initiative incubated and hosted by IPPR to address unequal access to good work. It has since become independent.
• Centre for CitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Cities was incubated by IPPR and became independent in 2007, continuing as a separate think tank focused on city-level economic policy.
• FrontlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA practical initiative incubated and launched by IPPR to test and demonstrate ideas in practice.
• Think AheadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA practical initiative incubated and launched by IPPR to test and demonstrate ideas in practice.
• The DifferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA practical initiative incubated and launched by IPPR to test and demonstrate ideas in practice.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Policy Exchange: Leading centre-right UK think tank producing policy research across economics, education, housing, and foreign affairs. Comparable scale and policy influence, though ideologically opposite.
• Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS): One of the UK's most established economic research institutes, producing independent analysis on tax, public finances, and social policy. Comparable in research depth and policy influence, though it operates across the political spectrum rather than from a progressive standpoint.
• Centre for Policy Studies: UK centre-right think tank. Comparable in organisational structure, research output, and influence on UK policy debate, but serves an opposing ideological audience and funder base.
• Chatham House: Royal Institute of International Affairs, a leading international affairs think tank. Comparable in convening power and policy research depth, particularly relevant given IPPR's growing Centre for Geopolitics and International Policy.

Direct peers

• Resolution Foundation: UK-focused economic and social policy think tank producing research on living standards, wages, and inequality. Closely comparable to IPPR in progressive orientation, research-led model, and reliance on foundation and government funding.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Global policy institute focused on progressive governance reform. Comparable in policy orientation, convening power, and government advisory work, though with a much larger international footprint.
• New Economics Foundation (NEF): Progressive think tank focused on economic justice, environmental sustainability, and social well-being. Closely comparable mission, funding model, and target audiences to IPPR.
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation: UK charity funding research and advocacy on poverty and social policy. Comparable as a non-profit policy research organisation with similar funding model (foundations, donations) and overlapping subject matter on social security and inequality.
• Fabian Society: UK's oldest progressive think tank affiliated with the Labour movement. Comparable in policy research output and progressive orientation, though operates with a more explicit party-aligned membership model.

Emerging players

• Centre for Cities: Urban economics and policy think tank originally incubated by IPPR before becoming independent in 2007. Directly comparable on policy research output and serves overlapping audiences focused on UK regional growth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IPPR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCK8bnqASv4NQTSjGJh6awZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ipprUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/82853
• Instagraminstagram.com/ippr_uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IPPR