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Secretary of State for Business and Trade facts for kids

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For the UK Government department, see Department for Business and Trade.
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United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Official portrait of Jonathan Reynolds MP crop 2.jpg
Incumbent
Jonathan Reynolds
since 5 July 2024
Department for Business and Trade
Style
Member of Cabinet
Privy Council
Board of Trade
Reports to The Prime Minister
Appointer The Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Formation
  • 20 October 1963:
    (as Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development)
  • 7 February 2023:
    (as Secretary of State for Business and Trade)
First holder Edward Heath
(as Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development)
Salary £159,038 per annum (2022)
(including £86,584 MP salary)
Website Department for Business and Trade

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade, often called the Business Secretary, is a very important government minister in the United Kingdom. This person is in charge of the Department for Business and Trade, which handles all sorts of things related to businesses and trade in the UK. The Business Secretary is also a member of the Cabinet, which is a group of the most senior ministers in the government.

The person currently holding this job is Jonathan Reynolds. He was chosen by Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, on 5 July 2024.

What Does the Business Secretary Do?

The Business Secretary's job is similar to what a "Commerce Minister" does in many other countries. Their main tasks include:

  • Working with businesses both inside the UK and around the world.
  • Creating rules and policies to make it easier for businesses to operate.
  • Developing plans for international trade and making agreements with other countries.
  • Managing rules about what goods can be imported into and exported from the UK.

How the Role Has Changed Over Time

The job of the Business Secretary has changed a lot over the years. It has been renamed and had its responsibilities shifted many times to keep up with the changing needs of the country.

Early Days of the Role

The role first appeared in 1963. Back then, it was called the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development. Edward Heath was the first person to hold this title.

Later, in 1970, the government decided to combine different departments to create the Department of Trade and Industry. The person leading this new department became known as the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Splitting and Rejoining Departments

In 1974, the job was split into three separate roles:

  • Secretary of State for Industry
  • Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection
  • Secretary of State for Trade

This meant different ministers focused on different parts of business and trade. However, by 1983, these roles were merged back together. The job became the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry again. Some ministers, like Michael Heseltine, preferred to use an older title, President of the Board of Trade, even though the Board hadn't met in a very long time!

Modern Changes

In 2007, the role was renamed Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. This change brought new responsibilities, like improving how rules are made for businesses.

Then, in 2009, another big change happened. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills joined with the existing department. This created the role of Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. This person was now also in charge of things like universities and skills training.

In 2016, the job changed again to Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. This meant the minister was also responsible for energy and climate change. At the same time, a new role was created, the Secretary of State for International Trade, to focus specifically on global trade deals.

The Current Role

The current title, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, was created on 7 February 2023. This happened after a big change in government departments. The old Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy was split up. Its business responsibilities, along with the work of the former Department for International Trade, were combined to form the new Department for Business and Trade. This new department and its Secretary now focus on supporting businesses and promoting trade for the UK.

Who Has Held This Job?

Many different people have been the Business Secretary or held similar roles over the years. Here are some of the recent people who have held the main business-related Secretary of State positions:

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016–2023)

Secretary of State Took office Left office Political party Cabinet Prime Minister
Official portrait of Rt Hon Greg Clark MP crop 2.jpg Greg Clark
MP for Tunbridge Wells		 14 July 2016 24 July 2019 Conservative May I Theresa May
May II
Official portrait of Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP crop 2.jpg Andrea Leadsom
MP for South Northamptonshire		 24 July 2019 13 February 2020 Conservative Johnson I Boris Johnson
Johnson II
Official portrait of Alok Sharma crop 2.jpg Alok Sharma
MP for Reading West		 13 February 2020 8 January 2021 Conservative
Official portrait of Kwasi Kwarteng crop 2.jpg Kwasi Kwarteng
MP for Spelthorne		 8 January 2021 6 September 2022 Conservative
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.jpg Jacob Rees-Mogg
MP for North East Somerset		 6 September 2022 25 October 2022 Conservative Truss Liz Truss
Grant Shapps Official Cabinet Portrait, October 2022 (cropped).jpg Grant Shapps
MP for Welwyn Hatfield		 25 October 2022 7 February 2023 Conservative Sunak Rishi Sunak
This department was closed in February 2023. Its jobs were moved to new departments, including the Department for Business and Trade.

Secretary of State for Business and Trade (2023–present)

Secretary of State Took office Left office Political party Cabinet Prime Minister
Kemi Badenoch official Cabinet Portrait; 2022 (cropped).jpg Kemi Badenoch
MP for Saffron Walden		 7 February 2023 5 July 2024 Conservative Sunak Rishi Sunak
Official portrait of Jonathan Reynolds MP crop 2.jpg Jonathan Reynolds
MP for Stalybridge and Hyde		 5 July 2024 Incumbent Labour Starmer Keir Starmer

Timeline of Secretaries

Jonathan Reynolds Kemi Badenoch Grant Shapps Jacob Rees-Mogg Kwasi Kwarteng Alok Sharma Andrea Leadsom Greg Clark Amber Rudd Sajid Javid Ed Davey Vince Cable Chris Huhne Ed Miliband John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness Alistair Darling Alan Johnson Patricia Hewitt Stephen Byers Peter Mandelson Margaret Beckett Ian Lang Michael Heseltine Peter Lilley Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale David Young, Baron Young of Graffham Paul Channon Leon Brittan Norman Tebbit Cecil Parkinson Arthur Cockfield, Baron Cockfield Patrick Jenkin John Biffen Keith Joseph John Nott John Smith (Labour Party leader) Roy Hattersley Edmund Dell Eric Varley Shirley Williams Peter Shore Tony Benn Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester John Davies (British businessman) Edward Heath

Images for kids

  • Heathdod

    Edward Heath was the first Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development.

  • Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (Tudor Crown)

    The Royal Coat of Arms, often seen on government documents.

  • Tony Benn2

    Tony Benn served as Secretary of State for Industry.

  • Shirley Williams, 1984

    Shirley Williams was the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.

  • Roy Hattersley 2012 cropped 2

    Roy Hattersley served as Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.

  • John Nott

    John Nott was the Secretary of State for Trade.

  • Lord Tebbit crop 2.jpg

    Norman Tebbit served as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Leon Brittan (1996) 02

    Leon Brittan was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Lord young of Graffham

    David Young, Baron Young of Graffham served as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Official portrait of Lord Lilley crop 2

    Peter Lilley was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Lord Heseltine (6969083278)

    Michael Heseltine served as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Official Portrait of Lord Lang of Monkton crop 2

    Ian Lang was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Official portrait of Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP crop 2

    Margaret Beckett served as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Peter Mandelson at Politics of Climate Change 3

    Peter Mandelson held several business-related Secretary of State roles.

  • Stephen Byers official portrait

    Stephen Byers served as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Patricia Hewitt

    Patricia Hewitt was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Alan Johnson -9Oct2007-2

    Alan Johnson served as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • AlistairDarlingABr cropped

    Alistair Darling was Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

  • Msc 2009-Sunday, 11.00 - 12.30 Uhr-Zwez 005 Hutton detail

    John Hutton was the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

  • Official portrait of Rt Hon Edward Miliband MP crop 2

    Ed Miliband served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

  • Chris Huhne MP (5980495891)

    Chris Huhne was Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

  • Official portrait of Sir Vince Cable crop 2

    Vince Cable was Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

  • Official portrait of Rt Hon Sir Edward Davey MP crop 2

    Ed Davey served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

  • Official portrait of Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP crop 2

    Sajid Javid was Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

  • Official portrait of Amber Rudd crop 2

    Amber Rudd served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

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