Rt Hon Sajid Javid has been appointed as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Javid previously served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from April 2014 to May 2015, as well as Minister for Equalities, and Financial Secretary to the Treasury.
He has been MP for Bromsgrove constituency since elected in the 2010 General Election, and is a economics and politics graduate of Exeter Univeristy.
In his new role, Javid will be responsible for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ stategy and all policies, its overall budget, and reducing regulatory burdens across government, as well as being President of the Board of Trade.
Responding to today’s announcement, CEO of EEF, Terry Scuoler commented: “Sajid Javid takes on this critical brief at a pivotal time for the economy and industry. Business needs stability and continuity in policy and the Government’s commitment to a long-term economic plan and business strategy remains key.
“Javid will need to focus on three things in particular: building on the success of the previous administration’s work on industrial strategy and ensuring this is applied across Government; maintaining funding for important levers of growth, including research and innovation and support for exporters, through UKTI; and helping ensure Government delivers the big ticket infrastructure projects, from the new airport hub, to rail and road improvements.
“The new Secretary of State will also play an important role in any EU negotiations and in the forthcoming referendum, and I am sure he understands that the vast majority of businesses he will now be representing in Government want Britain to remain at the heart of a reformed Europe.”
