| Post: | Minister of State for Skills |
| Insignia: | Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg |
| Insigniacaption: | Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government |
| Department: | Department for Education |
| Incumbent: | The Baronesss Smith of Malvern |
| Incumbentsince: | 6 July 2024 |
| Style: | Minister |
| Nominator: | Prime Minister of the United Kingdom |
| Appointer: | The Monarch |
| Appointer Qualified: | on advice of the Prime Minister |
| First: | Margaret Hodge MP |
| Formation: | 2001 (Second Blair ministry) |
| Website: | https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--175 |
The office of Minister of State for Skills,[1] 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.[2] 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 parlimentary under-secretary of state role and known as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, Further and Higher Education.
Under the Sunak ministeries, the role was promoted back to the level of Minister of State.[3]
At certain times, the minister worked in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The short form Skills Minister is sometimes used.[4]
The position had increased prominence in 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic affected further education and university education.[5] The minister attended cabinet briefly after the 2021 British cabinet reshuffle.[6]
The minister has the following responsibilities:[7]
| Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Political party | Prime Minister | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role created out of the Department for Education and Skills | ||||||||
| Minister of State for Universities | ||||||||
| Margaret Hodge MP for Barking | 11 June 2001 | 13 June 2003 | Labour | Tony Blair(ll) | ||||
| Minister of State for Higher Education | ||||||||
| Alan Johnson | 13 June 2003 | 8 September 2004 | Labour | Tony Blair(ll) | ||||
| Kim Howells MP for Pontypridd | 10 September 2004 | 11 May 2005 | Labour | Tony Blair(ll) | ||||
| Bill Rammell MP for Harlow | 11 May 2005 | 5 October 2008 | Labour | Tony Blair(lll)
(l) | ||||
| Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills | ||||||||
| David LammytheMP for Tottenham | 28 June 2007 | 11 May 2010 | Labour | Gordon Brown(l) | ||||
| Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities | ||||||||
| David Willetts MP for Havant | 11 May 2010 | 14 July 2014 | Conservative | David Cameron(Coalition) | ||||
| Greg ClarkMP for Royal Tunbridge Wells | 15 July 2014 | 11 May 2015 | Conservative | David Cameron(Coalition) | ||||
| Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation | ||||||||
| Jo JohnsonMP for Orpington | 11 May 2015 | 9 January 2018 | Conservative | David Cameron(II) Theresa May + | ||||
| Sam GyimahMP for East Surrey | 9 January 2018 | 30 November 2018 | Conservative | Theresa May | ||||
| Chris Skidmore[8] MP for Kingswood | 5 December 2018 | 24 July 2019 | Conservative | Theresa May | ||||
| Jo JohnsonMP for Orpington | 24 July 2019 | 5 September 2019 | Conservative | Boris Johnson(l) | ||||
| Chris SkidmoreMP for Kingswood | 10 September 2019 | 13 February 2020 | Conservative | Boris 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 2022 | ||||||||
| Michelle DonelanMP for Chippenham | 13 February 2020 | 5 July 2022 | Conservative | Boris 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 2022 | ||||||||
| Andrea JenkynsMP for Morley and Outwood | 9 July 2022 | 26 October 2022 | Conservative | Boris Johnson(ll) | ||||
| Minister of State for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education | ||||||||
| Robert HalfonMP for Harlow | 26 October 2022 | 26 March 2024 | Conservative | Rishi Sunak (I) | ||||
| Luke HallMP for Thornbury and Yate | 26 March 2024 | 5 July 2024 | Conservative | |||||
| Minister of State for Skills | ||||||||
| The Baroness Smith of Malvern | 6 July 2024 | Incumbent | Labour | Keir Starmer (I) | ||||