New Department for Business, Innovation & Skills under Lord Mandelson

05 06 2009 United Kingdom

As part of today’s cabinet reshuffle, the government has created a new Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

The new department is the result of merging the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

The Department for Business will assess the changing skills needs of the UK economy and invest in developing the higher education system to compete at the global level.

It is headed by Lord Mandelson as Secretary of State for Business. Baroness Vadera continues with responsibility for small businesses as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Economic Competitiveness, Small Business and Enterprise.

Lord Mandelson said: "The government needs to provide active and urgent help to business and employees. Bringing together the strengths and capabilities of the two former departments will enable us to do that more effectively, ensuring British business can compete successfully in the future world economy."

Some commentators expressed concern that confusion could result from combining BERR and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills just two years after they were formed.

Sir Alan Sugar, the businessman and Apprentice host, will become the government’s 'enterprise tsar', with a seat in the House of Lords.

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