All change in small business policy space as May’s dramatic reshuffle comes to an end
Theresa May’s reshuffle has been one of the most dramatic on record
The department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has been disbanded by new prime minister Theresa May in one of the most radical cabinet reshuffles in decades.
Former communities secretary Greg Clark will now head up a new department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, following May’s commitment on 11 July to create a proper industrial strategy to get the whole economy firing.
I am thrilled to have been appointed to lead this new department, ” said Clark, adding that he would be “leading government’s relationship with business, furthering our world-class science base, delivering affordable, clean energy and tackling climate change”.
Responsibility for higher and further education, as well as apprenticeships, is to be transferred to the department for education (DfE) with Justine Greening newly chosen to lead the agency and take the higher education bill through its second reading parliament.
Sajid Javid, the outgoing business secretary, has been given responsibility for communities and local government, while previous employment minister PrittI Patel is to take on the role of international development secretary.
Changes to the business department have been announced alongside news that Damien Green, a former immigration minister who was a financial journalist before becoming an MP, has been appointed work and pensions minister, heading up the section of government in charge of auto-enrolment.
Hannah Wilkinson is a reporter for Business Advice. She studied economics and management at Oxford University and prior to joining Business Advice wrote for Kensington and Chelsea Today about business and economics as well as running a tutoring company.
George Osborne's proposals to boost the post-Brexit British economy by slashing corporation tax to below 15 per cent have been met with a less than enthusiastic response. more»
The chief executive of the Start Up Loans company has predicted that demand for government-backed funding will rise if the UK falls into post-Brexit economic decline. more»
Simple single market access, an ability to hire the right people and continued, secure access to funding are key priorities for small businesses going forward. more»