Bids to the Fund are assessed by a panel of independent experts – the Supervisory Board - recruited through open competition for their expertise and relevant experience of working with trade unions. The Supervisory Board advises Ministers on the projects which should receive financial support in each bidding round. The Board has seven members including: Sir Bill Connor
The Chair of the UMF Supervisory Board, who was General Secretary of shop-workers union USDAW from 1997 to May 2004, having previously been Deputy General Secretary from 1989 to 1997. Sir Bill is also a member of the Central Arbitration Committee and was a member of the TUC's General Council from 1997 to 2004. In 2006 he was elected President of the Involvement and Participation Association. Bruce Warman
Was Director of Personnel for Vauxhall Motors from 1987 to 2003. He is currently a member of the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Previously he was Chairman of the CBI Employment Relations Panel, HR Directors Forum and the CBI East Council, and an Acas Council member from 1996 to 2002. Willy Brown
Is Master of Darwin College, Cambridge and Montague Burton Professor of Industrial Relations, University of Cambridge. Willy has been a member of the Low Pay Commission since 1997 and was an Acas Council member from 1998 to 2004. Jeannie Drake
Has been a Deputy General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) since 1995. Jeannie is also member of the Equal Opportunities Commission and was TUC President. Adrian Askew
Has been General Secretary of Connect, the union for telecoms professionals, since May 2003, having previously been Deputy General Secretary from August 1995 to May 2003. Adrian is also a member of the Better Regulation Commission and on the board of e-skills UK Danny Carrigan
Was Assistant General Secretary of Amicus from 2002 to 2005. Danny also served on the TUC and STUC general councils and is also currently a member of the Health and Safety Commission. | 
