Design Review Ltd separately provides design review services that are typically commissioned and funded by applicants. This interest is disclosed and assessed before appointment. Reviewer selection, documented safeguards and control of findings must protect both actual and reasonably perceived independence; assignments are declined where that cannot be achieved.
Assignment safeguards
- An assignment-specific conflicts and independence check is completed before acceptance.
- The client, current provider, relevant organisations and known relationships are considered.
- If the arrangement under review is delivered by another commercial design review provider, Tim Burton or Andy Robbins leads the review rather than Jonathan Braddick.
- Any relevant common ownership, prior role or commercial interest is disclosed and a reasoned acceptance, mitigation or decline decision is recorded.
- Design Review Ltd does not enter framework agreements with parties whose governance arrangements it reviews.
- Findings are not shaped to secure a design review, implementation or other follow-on appointment.
- No accreditation, badge, permanent approved status or provider comparison is awarded.
Reviewer assignment
Andy and Tim bring relevant experience, but changing the lead reviewer does not remove Design Review Ltd’s commercial connection with The Design Review Panel. The safeguards must work for the particular assignment, not just the individual reviewer.
The lead reviewer is selected for the subject matter, relevant experience, availability and conflicts position. Enhanced assignments also include an independent peer reviewer selected against the same criteria. If a conflict cannot be managed without compromising independence or reasonable perception, the appointment is declined and any payment received is returned.
What we agree before accepting your review
The written appointment will identify the lead reviewer, relevant interests and the decision to accept the work. It will also confirm:
- Who may see the evidence, why they need access and the agreed secure way to share it.
- Who takes responsibility for the findings and any peer review. A factual-correction round is not a right to change an unwelcome professional conclusion.
- How you or your current provider can raise an independence concern, and who will consider it without a conflict in the matter.
- How any optional implementation work is kept separate from the review’s conclusions.
We do not describe an assignment as independent merely because a different member of our team leads it. Where a concern cannot be managed credibly, we will not accept the assignment. You remain free to act on the findings with your own team or another adviser.
Questions or declarations
Raise a potential conflict before booking or at any point during an assignment by emailing governance@designreviewpanel.co.ukor telephoning 01395 265768.