The David Ross Foundation
Educational opportunities, helping children discover their strengths and fulfil their potential.
DAVID ROSS
David Ross is a UK based entrepreneur and philanthropist best known for co-founding The Carphone Warehouse Group plc in 1991. He led the company's IPO and subsequent growth to become Europe's leading mobile communications retailer.
David’s philanthropic work is carried out through the David Ross Foundation which he founded. The Foundation makes charitable donations to a range of educational, community and cultural initiatives, including the David Ross Education Trust, the University of Nottingham, Nevill Holt Opera Festival and John Ross Community Fund.
In 2007, David founded the David Ross Education Trust. The first school to join the Trust in 2007 was Havelock Academy, a secondary school based in David’s hometown of Grimsby. Recognised as one of 11 system leaders nationwide, the Trust has 34 primary and secondary schools in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and London. David is also Chair of New Schools Network and a Trustee of Cathedral Academies Trust.
David is a board member of the British Olympic Association and Commonwealth Games England and The University of Nottingham's Development Committee (Chair). David is Chair of the National Portrait Gallery and Trustee of Uppingham School. He has also been a member of Sport England, the Home Office Audit Committee, and Lord Carter's Review of Legal Aid Procurement. He was appointed to London United, the body supporting the capital's bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup bid, having previously been the Mayor's representative for the planning of the 2012 London Olympics.
David was educated at Uppingham School and Nottingham University. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co, working with the firm from 1988 to 1991.
Foundations
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Est. 2007
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Est. 2007
DRET
The David Ross Education Trust, sponsors primary and secondary academies in the East Midlands, East of England and Yorkshire regions.
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Est. 2011
John Ross MBE Community Fund
The community fund, aims to support local organisations and charities with grants
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Est. 2013
Nevill Holt Opera
Education programme,run by the Opera
Charities
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Since 2020
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Since 2009
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Since2006
Trustee
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Since.2009
Council member
Honors, Awards and Grants
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Jan 2015the David P.J. Ross Magna Carta Vault
Most recently, a £1.5 million donation has been made to the Lincoln Castle Revealed project to build a new underground vault - the David P.J. Ross Magna Carta Vault - to house Lincoln’s copy of the Magna Carta (one of only 4 copies surviving). It will offer workshops, guided tours and other cross-curricular activities for primary and secondary schools in line with the National Curriculum as well as adding to the important cultural history of Lincoln. -
2014Serpentine Sackler Gallery
The foundation has also supported major arts projects including the development of the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London -
2015London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA)
the ongoing redevelopment of the home of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). -
2015-2016The Nottingham University, David Ross Sports Village
Nottingham University, the foundation is a lead sponsor of the Nottingham Potential Programme; a programme seeking to help some of the most deprived young people in the East Midlands to reach University. The foundation has also recently donated a significant sum to the University for the development of a new sports village to be called the David Ross Sports Village. Construction started in February 2015 and should be completed by the end of June 2016. -
2013The Nevill Holt Opera
Through its support of the Nevill Holt Opera, which was founded by David in 2013 at his home, Nevill Holt Hall in Leicestershire, students including those from academies sponsored by DRET take part in the education programme run by the Opera. A number of students from DRET academies have also had the opportunity to perform in the children’s chorus of these world class productions.