Interests to declare
An interest can be financial, professional or personal. Reviewers disclose uncertainty as well as an obvious conflict.
- Current or relevant past employment, consultancy and paid speaking.
- Shareholdings, ownership or a direct competitive interest.
- Research funding, sponsorship or other material support.
- Close personal relationships relevant to the applicant or decision.
How a declaration is handled
The reviewer submits a declaration before accessing the full evidence. A separate authorised person considers its relevance and records the outcome.
A reviewer does not approve their own participation. The declaration and its outcome remain with the assignment.
Proceed
The assignment can continue on the recorded basis.
Restrict
The role is limited where that can preserve independence.
Replace
A different reviewer is appointed when the interest prevents an independent assessment.
Contact, gifts and payments
Applicants communicate assessment questions through the awards team. Gifts, payments or informal requests for a favourable decision must not be offered to reviewers.
Optional-item orders are separate from review. Reviewer compensation, where applicable, does not depend on the award outcome or an applicant’s purchasing decision.
Raise a concern
Give the entry or award reference, the facts and any relevant source. The person whose conduct is questioned does not decide how the concern is resolved.
Changes during a review
A reviewer must promptly disclose a new or changed interest. The programme records the applicable policy and declaration; a relevant change can require reassignment or examination of an affected decision.