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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
Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
Peter Kyle Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped)2.jpg
Incumbent
Peter Kyle
since 5 September 2025
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 an important government minister in the United Kingdom. This person is in charge of the Department for Business and Trade. Their main job is to help businesses in the UK grow and succeed, and to manage how the UK trades with other countries. The Business Secretary is a member of the Cabinet, which is a group of senior ministers who make big decisions for the country.

The current Business Secretary is Peter Kyle. He was appointed to this role by Keir Starmer on 5 September 2025. Another important person is the Shadow Business Secretary, who is from the opposition party and checks the work of the Business Secretary. Currently, this role is held by Andrew Griffith since 2024.

What the Business Secretary Does

The Business Secretary's job is similar to a "Commerce Minister" in many other countries. They handle many important tasks related to business and trade:

  • Working with businesses in the UK and around the world.
  • Creating rules that make it easier for businesses to operate.
  • Developing plans for international trade and making trade agreements with other countries.
  • Managing what goods and services the UK buys from and sells to other nations.

A Look at the Past: How the Role Developed

The role of the Business Secretary has changed a lot over the years. It started in 1963 with a similar job called the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development. This was held by Edward Heath.

Later, in 1970, many government jobs related to trade and technology were combined. This created the Department of Trade and Industry. The person leading this department was known as the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. They also held an older title, President of the Board of Trade.

Over time, the government sometimes split these responsibilities into different departments. For example, in 1974, there were separate ministers for Industry, Prices and Consumer Protection, and Trade. This was to focus on specific areas. However, these departments were often merged back together to work more closely. Some ministers, like Michael Heseltine, even preferred to use the older title of President of the Board of Trade, even though it was found that the Board of Trade had not actually met since the mid-1800s.

In 2007, the role was renamed to Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. This change brought new focus areas, like making rules simpler for businesses. Then, in 2009, it became the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when a department for universities and skills was added. This showed the government's interest in education and new ideas.

In 2016, the department changed again to focus on energy and climate change, becoming the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. This was a big step towards tackling environmental issues alongside business growth.

Finally, on 7 February 2023, the current role of Secretary of State for Business and Trade was created. This happened when the old department was split into three new ones. The new Department for Business and Trade took over all the business and international trade responsibilities. This helps the government focus clearly on supporting businesses and making trade deals around the world.

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