Independent Appraisers - DRIVE35 Supplier Readiness & Transformation Fund Remote (UK-based)
£260 per appraisal day | £74.96 per hour for panel participation
Start: End of June 2026
Contract: Interim / Consultancy (Outside IR35)

Programme Overview

We are supporting a large public sector organisation in delivering a major programme designed to accelerate the UK's transition to electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and strengthen domestic supply chains.This multi-year initiative will award capital grants (£250k-£3m) to businesses investing in EV manufacturing capability, automation, advanced materials, battery technology and supply chain resilience.To support delivery, we are building a diverse pool of independent appraisers to assess applications and provide expert, impartial recommendations.

The Opportunity

We are seeking 6 experienced independent appraisers to join a flexible pool supporting the assessment of funding applications.

• Year 1 includes 16 applications (approx. 2-3 per appraiser)
• Work is delivered fully remotely.

Appraisers will:
Independently review applications

• Score proposals against defined criteria
• Participate in 2-hour panel discussions (3 appraisers per panel)

Scope of Work

Application AppraisalYou will conduct structured reviews of funding applications across:

• Technical feasibility & engineering credibility
• Commercial viability & market demand
• Delivery capability and operational readiness
• Strategic alignment to EV supply chain priorities
• Risk and additionality assessment
• Validation of value-for-money assumptions

Each appraisal will require written feedback and scoring against programme criteria.

Panel Participation

• Join virtual moderation panels (approx. 2 hours per session)
• Collaborate with fellow appraisers to agree consensus scores and funding recommendations
• Provide justification and challenge where appropriate

Required Expertise

We are looking for a broad and complementary mix of backgrounds, ideally spanning:

Technical / Engineering

• EV technologies (battery, power electronics, motors, fuel cells)
• Advanced manufacturing, automation, robotics, Industry 4.0
• Production process design and scale-up readiness

Commercial & Market Insight

• Automotive / EV supply chains (OEMs, Tier 1-3)
• Manufacturing commercialisation and market entry
• Demand validation and competitive positioning

Delivery & Operations

• Capex project delivery and implementation
• Risk assessment and operational feasibility
• Supply chain and procurement understanding

Public Sector / Funding Appraisal (Desirable)

• Experience with programmes such as Innovate UK, APC, Catapult, LEPs or similar
• Familiarity with structured scoring frameworks and panel moderation

Key Requirements

• Ability to provide independent, evidence-based assessments
• Strong written reporting skills
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary panels
• High levels of integrity and conflict of interest awareness
• Availability for: Individual appraisal work (a few hours per application) and panel meetings during July-August and October-November

What you need to do now

If you're interested in these roles, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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