For the past four years MADE has offered a regional design review service and given expert feedback on nearly 200 development proposals.  For the past three years we have offered a design support and advice service for local authorities facing design challenges.  These services were paid for by grants from Advantage West Midlands.  That financial support ends on 31^st March 2011

From April 1^st 2011 the way we offer our services will change:

• We will continue to offer design review services supported by DCLG through the new CABE (within the Design Council) and by fees from developers and local authorities.  As part of the design review service we may also be supporting local review panels in parts of the West Midlands.
• We expect to be supporting communities and local authorities with neighbourhood planning as the Localism Bill becomes law.
• A number of local authorities in the region have said they want our help to provide extra capacity on major projects and with the training of officers and members.  They value the flexibility and independence of MADE.

Our Expert Panel will help us deliver this work. Expert Panel members staff our design review panels and provide independent advice, support and training to local authorities, communities and third sector organisations. The Expert Panel gives MADE its authority.

We are taking this opportunity to refresh and strengthen our Expert Panel. We are particularly looking for people with experience and expertise in:

• planning
• community engagement
• commercial aspects of development
• sustainability

To join our Expert Panel you must have:

• an understanding of the importance of design quality in the built environment and a commitment to achieving it
• expertise in a built environment profession or a complementary area that impacts on design quality
• proven ability to provide effective advice and support on design issues, or on processes that lead to better design

We normally require at least ten years experience in a relevant built environment profession or a complementary field.

Expert Panel members provide two types of support to MADE:

• Sitting on design review panels giving expert (normally confidential) feedback on proposed developments
• Providing design support, advice, facilitation and training to local authorities and other public and third sector organisations.  This usually consists of MADE commissioning a certain number of days support from a Panel member.  This support differs from consultancy in that Expert Panel members are expected to be independent and support MADE’s objectives of promoting good design.

Our Expert Panel members work for honoraria which are usually well below their normal day-rates as part of their commitment to the quality of the built environment in the West Midlands. From 1^st April we will pay £300 per day for design support and £200 per day for participation in design review panels.  In both cases this is plus reasonable expenses and VAT.

We will also be asking whether there might be circumstances when you would be willing to work on a pro-bono basis.  We appreciate that not everyone will be able to do this and it is certainly not a condition of participation in the Panel.  However, we may be requested to support community groups or local design review panels beyond any funding we may have available.  

To apply to join the MADE Expert Panel please complete the expression of interest form which you can find in the Library section of this website. Save the forms with your name in the title and email them together with your CV to Bianca.

The deadline for applications is 24^th March and we will try to let you know by 31^st April whether you have been accepted. 

Please note that acceptance onto the Panel will not guarantee work from MADE.  We try to make sure that all our Panel members get a share of the work available, but this is not always possible.

If you have any queries or wish to discuss this further please call David or Bianca on 0121 363 0064.