Apply as an Expert

Working with Silverlight Research as an Expert

The short video below introduces the Silverlight Research expert network from an expert’s perspective: institutional clients submit a research question, our team screens senior practitioners from our standing network for relevance and compliance suitability, and matched experts are invited to a paid 30–60 minute consultation scheduled at their convenience. You set your own hourly rate, you are paid per completed call, there is no exclusivity, and you may decline any question, call, or engagement — before or during. All of this is stated in text in the sections above (How Engagements Work, Compensation, and Compliance and Confidentiality); the video simply visualises the same substance.

Who This Is For

This is intended for senior professionals with deep, first-hand industry experience. Typical participants include former or current executives, operators, functional leaders, and specialists with meaningful responsibility and decision-making exposure within their sector.

This is not a marketplace for general consulting, freelance work, or junior advisory services.

Participation is selective. Most applicants are not approved. Experts are screened for seniority, relevance, and compliance suitability before being considered for engagements.

How Engagements Work

1. 1.

   A client engagement arrives.

   An institutional client submits a research question.

2. 2.

   We search and screen.

   We identify relevant experts from our network based on relevance, seniority, and compliance considerations.

3. 3.

   You confirm.

   We check the project is appropriate for you, and you decide whether you’d like to speak with the client.

4. 4.

   The call.

   A 30–60 minute consultation scheduled at your convenience.

5. 5.

   You’re paid.

   Silverlight Research compensates you for your time at your agreed hourly rate, following the consultation and completion of administrative details.

Compensation, Rates, and Referrals

• Set your own hourly rate commensurate with your expertise.
• Payment per completed consultation.
• Referral program: monetary compensation for each consultation your referral completes within their first twelve months.

Full detail: Expert Payment & Compensation Policy.

Compliance and Confidentiality

• Every engagement is topic-scoped in advance. You are never asked to disclose material non-public information or anything covered by your confidentiality obligations.
• You may decline any question, any call, any engagement — before or during.
• No exclusivity: participating does not restrict consulting elsewhere.

Terms & Conditions for Experts · Tutorial for Experts

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am permitted to perform outside consulting under my employment agreement?

You should check with your employer to confirm that you are permitted to consult through Silverlight Research. You are solely responsible for determining whether you are permitted to consult according to your current employment terms.

If I am asked a question regarding a clinical trial which I worked on, may I discuss this?

You should not discuss non-public clinical trial data or patient experience information. Likewise, if you are a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Clinical Trial Steering Committee member, you must decline any consultation concerning current clinical trials. If you are not confident that you are permitted to undertake a particular consultation, you should decline.

If I am asked regarding customers or suppliers of the company I work for, can I discuss them?

It depends on the individual situation. Generally you may speak about a company that is a customer or supplier of your employer, provided that you and your company have no confidentiality agreement with that customer or supplier and you do not disclose any information given to your company in confidence. However, you may not discuss confidential information concerning your employer’s relationship with the customer or supplier, such as orders between your employer and its supplier or customer. If you are unsure whether information is confidential or otherwise restricted, you should not disclose it.

Am I permitted to discuss the details of my consultations with other Silverlight Research clients?

No. Your consultations with Silverlight Research clients and any information you receive in connection with a consultation or an invitation to consult are strictly confidential. You may not disclose a client’s identity, the subjects discussed or any information or materials provided to you by a Client. Likewise, you should not share information concerning any surveys that you are provided by Silverlight Research.

What is material non-public information?

Material non-public information is the legal term for information that can give rise to insider trading liability. Information is “material” if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in deciding whether to buy, sell or hold a security (e.g., a stock, bond or loan). To meet the threshold for materiality, there must exist a “substantial likelihood” that a fact would have been viewed by the reasonable investor as having significantly altered the total mix of information made available. Information may be deemed material even if it relates to speculative or contingent events.

If I am asked a question that would require me to reveal material non-public or otherwise confidential information, how should I respond?

You should explain that you cannot answer the question because it would cause you to reveal confidential information, then the client can move onto a different question. If you are uncomfortable continuing with the consultation, you may end it and invoice Silverlight Research for your time of the engagement prior to its termination plus 15 minutes. You should also notify Silverlight Research Compliance immediately.

When I click online that “I agree” to Silverlight Research’s Terms & Conditions for Experts, am I legally bound by them?

Yes. Clicking ‘Accept’ is the legal equivalent of signing a paper contract agreeing to Silverlight Research’s Terms & Conditions and you will be expected to abide by them fully.

If I become an Expert, am I prohibited from consulting for clients outside of Silverlight Research?

No. You may continue consulting with Clients of yours and may engage new Clients freely. Silverlight Research only asks that you continue to work through us with any Client to whom we first introduced you. In the case of certain large Clients, it is possible that you may have an existing relationship with one division and be introduced by Silverlight Research to Client employees in another. These situations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Am I permitted to act as a consultant for another primary research company?

Yes. We only ask that you continue to work through us with any Client to whom we first introduced you.

Please check the MSCI Global Industry Classification Standard for reference should you wish for clarification on the industry categorisation methodology we apply. Download the MSCI GICS PDF.

Fuller list of questions: FAQ for Experts.

Credibility

Independent coverage and verification: Independent Media References · Trust, Verification & References.

Silverlight Research Ltd · UK Company No. 11124869 · ICO registered ZA760718 · Established 2017 · Headquartered in London.

200,000+

Experts registered

4,000+

Clients

2017

Established since