Irvine Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw
Irvine Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw | |
|---|---|
| Born | Irvine Alan Stewart Laidlaw December 22, 1942 Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist, politician |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Known for | Founder of Institute for International Research; philanthropist; Conservative life peer |
Irvine Alan Stewart Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw (born 22 December 1942) is a Scottish entrepreneur and former member of the House of Lords. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2012, he was positioned 105th in the UK, with an estimated wealth of £745 million. By 2020, his ranking shifted to 180th, with a net worth of £787 million, marking a slight decrease from the previous year.
Biography
Born to Margaret and Roy Laidlaw,[1] a mill owner from Banffshire, Laidlaw received his education at Merchiston Castle School, Leeds University, and Columbia Business School.
Following his studies, he expanded a modest US publishing firm he acquired in 1973 into the Institute for International Research (IIR), which became the largest conference organizer worldwide. Although he planned a £500 million public offering in 2001, unfavorable market conditions led him to cancel it; subsequently, he sold IIR in 2005 for approximately £768 million.
In 1988, Laidlaw established Abbey Business Centres as a subsidiary of IIR, providing serviced offices, meeting facilities, and virtual office solutions throughout 13 locations across Great Britain. The inaugural centre launched in Glasgow, followed by one in Slough, Berkshire; by 2009, this network had grown to encompass 13 centres.[2]
The University of Leeds inaugurated the £26 million Laidlaw Library in 2015, named in honor of Irvine Laidlaw, an economics alumnus from the 1960s. His £9 million contribution remains the largest individual donation received by the university.[3] Additionally, he co-owns a $2.1 billion wind farm project that secured the largest clean energy financing deal in 2015 from eight lenders including Deutsche Bank AG.[4]
Laidlaw formerly owned and raced a Jaguar that achieved multiple victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the 1950s and collected classic cars such as a 1962 Ferrari GTO. He retired from racing in 2013 and sold his collection of vintage sports cars that same year, raising £17 million.[5]
Philanthropy
In 2004, Laidlaw pledged to allocate most of his wealth over the next two to three decades to aid disadvantaged young people. His initial initiative was the Laidlaw Youth Project (2004–2007), which later evolved into the now-defunct Laidlaw Youth Trust. Presently, he chairs the Irvine Laidlaw Foundation (Laidlaw Foundation), created to promote education globally with an emphasis on supporting underprivileged youth through grants and scholarships.
The Foundation administers three principal programmes:
- The Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Scholarship Programme—as of 2023, it operates at 19 universities worldwide including Barnard College, Columbia University, EPFL, Imperial College London, London School of Economics, University of Cambridge, University College London, and University of Oxford. Each year, approximately 25 students per institution receive funding for two summer terms to pursue research projects and develop leadership abilities.
- The Laidlaw Women's Business Education Programme—offers full and partial MBA scholarships aimed at women facing financial barriers to enhance gender equality in senior leadership roles globally. This programme is active at Columbia Business School and London Business School, with expansions to Saïd Business School in 2020, HEC Paris in 2023, and IE Madrid scheduled for 2024. Contributions include $2 million to Columbia Business School, £3.69 million to London Business School, and £1.35 million to Saïd Business School.
- The Laidlaw Schools Trust—a multi-academy trust established in 2008 that currently oversees 11 academies across North East England serving over 5,500 pupils and employing around 850 staff members. Its schools include Excelsior Academy, Academy 360, and Sedgefield Community College.
Other significant philanthropic contributions comprise:
- A £2 million donation to The Prince's Trust
- Support for campaigns preventing the closure of 21 schools slated by Moray Council
- R9 million funding for the Amakhaya Ngoku housing initiative in South Africa
- Joint funding for a scholarship program at Newcastle University
- Sponsorship of Glyndebourne Festival productions and a £100,000 gift to Scottish Opera
- Private investment backing Ben Ainslie Racing
- Contributions toward the Rural Education Access Programme
- £40,000 allocated to Keith Grammar School for career readiness projects
- A £1 million gift to his alma mater, Merchiston Castle School, financing the Laidlaw House sixth-form centre
- £9 million endowment to the University of Leeds facilitating the establishment of the Laidlaw Library opened in 2015
- A £4 million donation to the University of St Andrews supporting the Laidlaw Music Centre inaugurated in 2022
Between 2007 and 2009, more than £6 million was expended by the Laidlaw Youth Trust on initiatives benefiting disadvantaged youth in Scotland. The Trust was closed in 2009 as Laidlaw redirected his philanthropic efforts toward township housing projects in South Africa.
Laidlaw Opera Trust
Established by Lord Laidlaw, the Laidlaw Opera Trust aims to encourage and preserve the art of opera. Its primary activities involve conducting market research on public attitudes, organizing influential forums such as "The Business of Opera," and providing financial support to prominent opera venues and festivals.
Chairman: Lord Irvine Laidlaw The board of trustees features Anne Marabini Young, Bryan Evans MBE, The Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, and Lady Amanda Haddon-Cave.
Political donations
As a significant donor to the UK's Conservative Party, Laidlaw was granted a life peerage with the title Baron Laidlaw of Rothiemay in Banffshire on 14 June 2004. On 27 November 2007, he contributed £2,990,532.20 to the Conservative Party and also supported Boris Johnson's 2008 London Mayoral bid with a £25,000 donation.
Tax status
In 2008, The Guardian referred to Lord Laidlaw as a "Monaco-based tax exile." Despite his appointment to the House of Lords, he attracted criticism in 2007 for choosing not to become a UK tax resident due to personal reasons. After concerns were expressed by Dennis Stevenson, chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, Laidlaw took a leave of absence. Subsequently, following the enactment of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, he resigned his seat in 2010 to retain his non-domiciled tax status and avoid UK residency taxation.
Residences
Lord Laidlaw and his wife Christine divide their time between a Monaco apartment with harbour views and their expansive 23,200 m2 early 20th-century estate located in Noordhoek near Cape Town, South Africa. This property, acquired in November 2005 for R106 million, was the most expensive real estate transaction in South Africa at that time.
Controversies regarding private life
In April 2008, investigative journalist Mazher Mahmood conducted a sting operation for The News of the World, exposing that Laidlaw engaged up to five escorts simultaneously—each charging £3,000—for all-night gatherings featuring BDSM and lesbian encounters at a hotel in Monaco.
Historic Motor Racing
Laidlaw participates internationally in vintage car racing events with vehicles such as his Porsche 904 GTS, Porsche 904/6, Maserati 250S, and Maserati 6CM. He has earned accolades in Scottish amateur rallying driving a Ford Focus ST. In 2007, he acquired a 1001 hp Bugatti Veyron, occasionally spotted traveling between Noordhoek and Cape Town along Chapman's Peak Drive.
Luxury Motor Yachts
Among several luxury motor yachts owned by Laidlaw is the notable Fedship-built Lady Christine, purchased in 2003.
Sailing
Throughout his career, Laidlaw has been active in yacht racing, securing victories in prestigious competitions such as the Key West Regatta and Round the Island Race. As a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, he was instrumental in developing the Cape 31 sailing class. His fleet includes:
| Vessel Name | Year Built | Class/Type | Shipbuilder | Designer | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tower Maid | 1975 | Varne 27 | Duncan Stewart | ||
| Gonna Katcha | 1979 | Westerly GK 29 | Westerly | ||
| Highland Fling 1 | 1980 | Westerly GK 34 | Westerly | ||
| Highland Fling 3 | IOR One Tonner | Farr Yacht Design | |||
| Highland Fling 5 | Swan 46 | Nautor's Swan | German Frers | ||
| Highland Fling 6 | Swan 53 | Nautor's Swan | German Frers | ||
| Highland Fling 7 | 1994 | Swan 60 | Nautor's Swan | German Frers | |
| Carroll Marine 60 | Carroll Marine | Farr Yacht Design | |||
| Highland Fling | Wally 80 | Farr Yacht Design | |||
| Highland Fling XI | 2009 | Wally 82 | Goetz Composites | Reichel/Pugh | |
| Highland Fling XII | 2010 | IRC 52 | McConaghy Boats, China | "New" Turbocharged TP52 marketed as Cape Fling | |
| Cape Fling | Ker 46 | Ker Yacht Design | |||
| Oui Fling | 2017 | 52 ft Classic Racer | Spirit Yachts | "New" wooden-style classic racer | |
| Highland Fling 15 | 2016 - 2021 | Swan 115 | Nautor's Swan | German Frers | "New" large racer/cruiser; sold in 2021 and renamed moat |
| Highland Fling 16 | 2018 | Botin 56 Racer | King Marine | Botin Partners | "New" high-performance raceboat |
| Highland Fling 17 |
2021 | Gunboat 68 Catamaran | Gunboat | VPLP | Pre-owned high-speed cruising catamaran |
External links
- 1943 births
- Living people
- People from Keith, Moray
- Nobility from Moray
- People educated at Merchiston Castle School
- Alumni of the University of Leeds
- Columbia Business School alumni
- Scottish company founders
- Conservative Party (UK) life peers
- Scottish Conservative politicians
- Scottish billionaires
- British car collectors
- Conservative Party (UK) donors
- Scottish expatriates in Monaco
- British expatriates in Monaco
- Life peers created by Elizabeth II
- Peers retired from the House of Lords