The UK faces long-term challenges – global shifts, climate risk, ageing demographics, technology change and eroding social trust – that require a sustained national strategy. A permanent strategic practice, reviewed every five years on a 15-year horizon, would ensure adaptability and coherence. Its output would be a concise national strategy outlining five major challenges, related objectives and key strategic bets for the UK. The intended outcomes are clearer national purpose, better-informed decisions, coherent policy, resilience and greater collective agency. 

This Playbook from the Heywood Fellowship team aims to set out the steps, stakeholders, and tools involved, offering choices to suit different contexts. Its open-source method underpins legitimacy and enables all national capacities to take part.