Advanced Manufacturing Expert Evaluation Panel

Overview

Advanced manufacturing is at the forefront of global economic competition and security, and is critical to the UK government’s net zero and clean energy goals. The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan’s (AMSP) ambition is to nearly double annual business investment in the sector, giving UK firms an edge in 6 advanced manufacturing industries of the future (advanced materials, aerospace, agri-tech, automotive, batteries and space), and to drive growth across the UK.

To achieve this aim, the UK Government must ensure that decisions are based on robust evidence. DBT is setting up an expert evaluation panel to bring representatives from the industry, academia, and government together to share expert knowledge in advanced manufacturing.

Objectives

Working collaboratively with analysts within the Advanced Manufacturing Directorate (AMD), the expert evaluation panel will aim to provide independent oversight and advice on the research and evaluation activity undertaken to support the delivery of the sector plan.

This includes:

• providing methodological advice and challenge to support the development of future evaluation projects to ensure that the AMD evaluation plans are methodologically robust and feasible
• providing advice on the wider evidence base in frontier industries to identify evidence gaps and make recommendations on research that needs to be commissioned
• carrying out very small ad hoc analytical commissions drawing on their unique expertise, where appropriate and feasible

About the appointment

The UK Government seek to appoint 5 to 8 members to establish the expert evaluation panel. They welcome expressions of interest from experts from academia, industry and non-governmental organisations. These experts need to have extensive experience of designing and delivering high-quality evaluations, with their chosen field preferably being one of:

• advanced materials
• aerospace
• agri-tech
• automotive
• batteries
• space

A strong record of evaluation delivery in an adjacent sector will also be considered.

The expert evaluation panel convene quarterly beginning in September 2026. The UK Government expect panel members to participate for a minimum of 12 months (or attend at least 4 meetings in the 2026 to 2027 period). In addition to this, panel members may be asked to support on an ad hoc basis between quarterly meetings.

Renumeration and expenses

Expert evaluation panel members will receive a stipend of £300 per day for work undertaken for the panel. Each meeting will be considered to be 1 working day (half a day to read papers and half a day for meeting). In addition, ad hoc work and advice will be charged at the same rate of £300 per day and paid quarterly through DBT’s expenses process.

How to apply

To apply, please provide a:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• supporting statement via covering email (maximum 1000 words), setting out your motivation for and suitability to join the expert evaluation panel (referencing the following evaluation criteria)

Applications will be evaluated by the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Analysis team against the following criteria:

• technical evaluation credentials
• individual reputation and expertise
• knowledge of advanced manufacturing or its sub-sectors

Applications must be emailed to: advanced.manufacturing.research@businessandtrade.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is 16 August 2026.