In this opening episode, we introduce Universal Basic Services (UBS): a transformative vision for a society where everyone has unconditional access to life’s essentials. We explore the principles behind UBS, its origins in policy, and how it’s being trialled across the UK—from digital inclusion and food delivery to low-carbon mobility.

Through conversations with scholars, policy experts, and local government leaders, we unpack why UBS isn’t a utopian dream, but a practical and necessary response to inequality, ecological crisis, and the cost of living. UBS is more than a policy—it’s a framework for rethinking care, ownership, and the role of the state in everyday life.