The minister of state for Skills, formerly Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education and previously Minister of State for Universities, is a mid-level position in the Department for Education in the British government. The position has been filled by Jacqui Smith since July 2024. The minister has oversight over skills and higher and further education, including universities and the Student Loans Company.
Under New Labour, the role was known as Minister of State for Higher Education and Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
Under the Cameron–Clegg coalition and May ministries, the role became known as Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities and Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. The role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation was created out of this office.
Following the 2021 British cabinet reshuffle under the second Johnson ministry, the role was known as Minister of State for Higher and Further Education and the officeholder, Michelle Donelan, was given the right to attend Cabinet. Under Donelan's successor, Andrea Jenkyns, the position was demoted to a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State role and known as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Further and Higher Education.
Under the Sunak ministry, the role was promoted back to the level of Minister of State.
At certain times, the minister worked in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions.
The short form Skills Minister is sometimes used.
History The position had increased prominence in 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic affected further education and university education. The minister attended cabinet briefly after the 2021 British cabinet reshuffle.
Responsibilities The minister has the following responsibilities:
Skills England Technical qualifications, including T Levels Higher technical education (levels 4 and 5) Adult education, including basic skills and combined authority devolution Careers advice and support for young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) (including the Careers and Enterprise Company) Apprenticeships, including the growth and skills levy Technical Excellence Colleges Local skills improvement plans Governance, intervention and accountability of further education colleges Funding for education and training, provision and outcomes for 16- to 19-year-olds Further education funding, financial stability and workforce Access to higher education, participation and lifelong learning Quality of higher education and the student experience (including the Office for Students) Student finance (including the Student Loans Company) International education
List of ministers of state for higher and further education NamePortraitTook officeLeft officePolitical partyPrime MinisterRole created out of the Department for Education and SkillsMinister of State for UniversitiesMargaret Hodge
MP for Barking11 June 200113 June 2003LabourTony Blair (ll)Minister of State for Higher EducationAlan Johnson
MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle13 June 20038 September 2004LabourTony Blair (ll)Kim Howells
MP for Pontypridd10 September 200411 May 2005LabourTony Blair (ll)Bill Rammell
MP for Harlow11 May 20055 October 2008LabourTony Blair (lll)
Gordon Brown
(l)Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual PropertyDavid Lammy MP for Tottenham28 June 200711 May 2010LabourGordon Brown (l)Minister of State for Universities and ScienceDavid Willetts
MP for Havant11 May 201014 July 2014ConservativeDavid Cameron (Coalition)Minister of State for Universities, Science and CitiesGreg Clark MP for Royal Tunbridge Wells15 July 201411 May 2015ConservativeDavid Cameron (Coalition)Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and InnovationJo Johnson MP for Orpington11 May 20159 January 2018ConservativeDavid Cameron (II)
Theresa May
+ Sam Gyimah MP for East Surrey9 January 201830 November 2018ConservativeTheresa MayChris Skidmore MP for Kingswood5 December 201824 July 2019ConservativeTheresa MayJo Johnson MP for Orpington24 July 20195 September 2019ConservativeBoris Johnson (l)Chris Skidmore MP for Kingswood10 September 201913 February 2020ConservativeBoris Johnson (l) + (ll)Minister of State for Universities Feb 2020 to Sept 2021 Minister of State for Higher and Further Education Sept 2021 to July 2022Michelle Donelan MP for Chippenham13 February 20205 July 2022ConservativeBoris Johnson (ll) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Further and Higher Education July 2022 to Sept 2022 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills Sept to Oct 2022Andrea Jenkyns MP for Morley and Outwood9 July 202226 October 2022ConservativeBoris Johnson (ll) Liz Truss (I)Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher EducationRobert Halfon MP for Harlow26 October 202226 March 2024Conservative Rishi Sunak (I)Luke Hall MP for Thornbury and Yate26 March 20245 July 2024ConservativeMinister of State for SkillsJacqui Smith, Baroness Smith of Malvern6 July 2024IncumbentLabour Keir Starmer (I) Andy Burnham (I)
References
See also Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills