Joining the House of Lords is a life changing accomplishment. Give back to society by sharing your experience, knowledge and thought leadership by applying for a peerage in the House of Lords.
The role of a peer in the House of Lords
The role of a peer in the House of Lords is an influential position that comes with considerable responsibility.
Peers are tasked with scrutinising legislation and the management of public policy, as well as the creation or amendment of existing bills.
Individuals can join the House of Lords on a part-time basis as an Independent Crossbench Peer or a political peer affiliated to one of the main political parties – even if you have ongoing work, family or community commitments.
Why you should apply to join the House of Lords
Being appointed a peer is a life changing achievement. For many, it is an opportunity to share their specialisms, expertise and leadership with not only with the Upper House, but with society and the UK as a whole.
Furthermore, for many clients they see it as an opportunity to raise their personal profile, reputation and business endeavours. A peerage is a badge of trust that gives an individual credibility and a platform for you to have influence in the most important of forums. It is one of the most prestigious and sought after appointments in the world.
How to become a member of the House of Lords
With our dedicated and specialist House of Lords service you will be taken through the application process on a one to one basis with your consultant, who will gather all of the necessary information from you to be able to research and write your professional written application. They will also draft a bespoke CV to accompany it.
If you are successfully invited to interview, we will provide a further service to help prepare and guide you for the day, and your consultant will speak to up to six people who are familiar with your work and achievements and offer to draft their letters of support.
“I found your advice and hand’s on support invaluable. It can be difficult to decide what information to focus on in an application like this and to know what the Lords are looking for in a strong applicant. It’s been great working with someone who has a real understanding of the process.”
Criteria for Joining the House of Lords
Applications for a political peerage should be made to the leader of the relevant parliamentary party, although broadly the process is similar to applying for a non-political crossbench peerage. Applications to join as a crossbench peer will be assessed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. This commission has a significant role in choosing who will be appointed to the House of Lords.
The House of Lords Appointments Commission will often recommend individuals who meet the following criteria:
- Currently and willing to remain a UK resident for tax purposes
- Have the ability to make contributions to the work of the House of Lords beyond areas of their specific expertise or interests
- Who showcase exceptional personal qualities, with a strong emphasis on integrity and independence
- Are willing to commit the required time to make valuable inputs to the work of the House of Lords, which can still allow for individuals to continue with other professional interests
- Can demonstrate a strong fundamental understanding of the constitutional framework, including the role of the House of Lords in UK society
If you would like to join the House of Lords as either a crossbench peer or a political peer, please speak to our team. Awards Intelligence will help ensure that your application has the best chance of success.
How To Successfully Join The House of Lords
Joining the House of Lords requires careful planning, attention to detail, and an in-depth understanding of what the House of Lords Appointments Commission seeks in potential peers. With decades of experience in helping clients to join the House of Lords, our expert consultants will provide you with strategic guidance when making an application:
- Personally guide you through the entire House of Lords nomination process – meeting with you to source background information and agreeing the ideal mix of referees.
- Research and produce a professionally written application in line with the House of Lords requirements.
- Prepare your application to the highest possible standard, liaising with you every step of the way to ensure your application is perfect before you submit it to the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
As well as supporting you with your initial application to the House of Lords, a dedicated consultant will support you through every step of the process to maximise your chances of success:
- We will draft a bespoke CV to accompany your application – this is requested as part of the nomination process.
- If reference letters are requested by the Appointments Commission, your dedicated consultant will liaise with your proposed referees, drafting up to 6 letters of support for each referee to approve and sign.
- If your application leads to an interview with the Appointments Commission, the second stage of our service will commence.
- We will meet with you again and provide you with all the advice and guidance you need to give you the best possible chance of success.
- We will also contact your referees and professionally draft reference letters for them to sign and post to the Lords.
- If a second interview is requested, we would meet again to provide you with all the advice and guidance needed for the interview.
House of Lords FAQs
If you have a question about joining the House of Lords, please consult our dedicated FAQ section or browse our knowledge hub. Please contact a member of our team if you would like to find out more about joining the House of Lords.
When Can I Apply To Join The House of Lords?
The nomination and assessment process is a continuous one, with recommendations being made at regular intervals. Therefore, there is no nomination deadline.
What does the House of Lords do?
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK parliament. It works alongside the House of Commons to:
- Debate and pass legislation
- Check and challenge the actions of the government
- Provide a forum for independent expertise
The House of Lords chamber spends about 60% of its time on legislation; the other 40% is spent on scrutiny – questioning government and debating issues and policy. Committee work takes place outside the chamber.
Am I eligible for the House of Lords?
Assuming you are British, Irish or a Commonwealth citizen, resident in the UK for tax purposes and accept the requirement to remain so, we would be delighted to assist you with an application to the House of Lords. https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries
How long does a House of Lords application take?
It takes us approximately 4 to 6 weeks to professionally prepare your application and compile and design your bespoke CV. Upon submission to the House of Lords Appointments Commission, the average assessment period is 6–12 months.
Can I Still Work If I Join The Lords?
The House of Lords Appointments Commission recognises that individuals may wish to maintain their professional commitments and the demands of working life may limit their involvement in the House. However, the immediate benefit from your expertise is what will be initially assessed, and at a later stage in your career you may have the opportunity to spend more time in the Upper House.
What title will I receive if I join the House of Lords?
Members of the House of Lords are often referred to as peers. House of Lords titles are simple and can be broken down into two categories:
- A male peer has the title of Lord
- A female peer is a Baroness
How can I ensure the best chance of success for my House of Lords application?
Awards Intelligence will make sure your House of Lords application has the best chance of success. As the industry-leading professional drafting service, we know what it takes to write a detailed, compelling and impactful House of Lords application. We go beyond just simply making an application for you though. You will be guided through every stage of the process by an expert consultant on a one-to-one basis.
Should your application be successful and you are invited for an interview, we will work with you so you are fully prepared for the day. Your dedicated consultant can support with drafting letters of support from those who are familiar with your work and achievements. Our market-leading service will ensure that you have the best chance of success in becoming a member of the House of Lords.
Who has Awards Intelligence successfully helped join the House of Lords?
Awards Intelligence will never share details regarding who we have successfully helped join the House of Lords. We treat all applications with the highest level of confidentiality and respect.
However, we are delighted to receive wonderful feedback from our clients on a regular basis. Please browse our personal recognition testimonials to find out more. All testimonials are anonymous to protect the privacy of our clients.