The Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel (ETAP)
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-05)

ETAP brings together top UK evaluation and experimentation experts to provide free evaluation advice to civil servants, local government and What Works Centres.

Overview of the Panel

Bringing together individuals who are expert evaluators and passionate about evidence-based policymaking, the Panel provides advice on a variety of evaluation methods and approaches. It supports civil servants, local government and What Works Centres in the design and implementation of robust, high-quality evaluations.

The Panel comprises individuals from academia, government, research organisations and other areas with an understanding of the policy environment and the realities of undertaking evaluations at pace in complex areas of social policy. They have the ability to turn expert knowledge into practical, helpful advice; have substantial work experience in the field of evaluation and have extensive practical and applied evaluation skills. Please see the above documents for details of our current panel members.

Since 2015, the Panel has advised on over 170 projects across government departments. The Panel has advised a range of policy areas, including education, transport, employment, crime and more.

Examples of the Panel’s work

The Panel helped the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) design their first-ever randomised controlled trial showing that providing English language classes to women in segregated communities made these women more likely to use local amenities and develop friendships with people from different backgrounds. The trial fed into the government’s 2018 integrated communities strategy green paper and a new £6 million Integrated Communities English Language Programme in 2019/20.

Nick Boase, Social Research Team, Agri-Food Chain Directorate, Defra

Engagement with the panel has been immensely helpful for our work at Defra on trials to encourage healthy sustainable diets. The panel’s wide-ranging expertise, a wealth of experience and constructive challenge helped refine our programme of work. The impact of this advice is that our research programme is more robust, and better equipped to deliver high-quality actionable evidence which can inform future policy across government. We’ve been well supported from initial contact with the panel, through to the meeting and follow-up afterwards with panel members. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this group to others seeking advice on trials.

Being part of the Panel

Read below for our panellists’ reflections on their time on the Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel.

Professor Claudia Cooper, Professor of Psychiatry of Older Age, University College London

Applying my experience of research to such a diverse range of projects has been enjoyable and stimulating. It has been fascinating to meet people working to improve lives in so many varied governmental settings and to share different perspectives on challenges

Peter John, Professor of Public Policy, King’s College London

I sense real enthusiasm for the Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel in our meetings, as well as an appreciation of our contribution. I enjoy encountering the variety of evaluations across many government departments and agencies, and the fascinating challenges. [The panel] adds value by suggesting modifications to the design, by using more robust methods, while not undermining the great plans already in place.

Professor Richard Lilford, Director of National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Applied Research Centre West Midlands (ARCWM)

Working on this advisory committee is one of the highlights of my working life and I always try to make space for meetings in my busy calendar. The methodological challenges that diverse policy topics throw up are fascinating and informative. I feel privileged to sit at such a ‘high table’.

More information

Contact us at xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for advice and support.

Related content
- Evaluation Task Force (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/evaluation-task-force)