New Business Secretary Appointed: Make UK Comment
05.09.2025
The Prime Minister has announced a reshuffling of his cabinet bringing a significant change for manufacturing and wider industry.
Jonathan Reynolds MP, who helped usher in the recently launched Industrial Strategy, has been replaced as Business Secretary by Peter Kyle MP, formerly Secretary of State for Science, Innovation & Technology.
With the business brief central to shaping the Industrial Strategy, trade, and investment, this is one of the most relevant announcements for manufacturers - and a key appointment to watch in the months ahead.
While in a quieter but important shift, skills policy is to be taken out of the brief of the Department for Education and moved it a new 'growth department' set to be formed from the Department for Work and Pensions, now lead by Pat McFadden MP.
Read the reaction to both announcements from Make UK CEO Stephen Phipson CBE below.
Industry will welcome the new Secretary of State who brings a wealth of experience in the digital arena which is the defining issue in the future of manufacturing. The sector will look forward to working with him on the immediate challenges we face, in particular high energy costs and skills.
"I would like to thank Jonny Reynolds, the outgoing Business Secretary for his extensive and longstanding commitment to manufacturing and delivering the landmark industrial strategy. This legacy will benefit the sector for many years to come.
“We also welcome the move of skills policy Into the Department of Work and Pensions. A clearer and separate focus on tackling the skills crisis as a mechanism for generating growth is much needed and an important step forward.
