Ministerial role

Minister of State (Minister for Skills)

Organisations: Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions
Current role holder: The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Responsibilities

The minister’s Department for Education (DfE) responsibilities include:

  • governance, intervention and accountability of further education colleges
  • funding for education and training, provision and outcomes for 16- to 19-year-olds
  • further education 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)
  • technical qualifications, including T Levels
  • higher technical education (levels 4 and 5)
  • careers advice and support for young people aged 16 to 19 not in employment, education or training (NEET)
  • technical excellence colleges
  • international education

The minister’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) responsibilities include:

  • Skills England and Industry Training Boards
  • adult education, including basic skills
  • apprenticeships, including the growth and skills levy
  • skills bootcamps
  • sector skills packages
  • careers advice and support for young people over the age of 19 not in employment, education or training (NEET)
  • Youth Guarantee

Current role holder

The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern was appointed Minister of State (Minister for Skills) in the Department for Education on 6 July 2024. This role also became part of the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 September 2025.

Since 4 March 2025, the Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern has also served as Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities).

She previously served as a Government Spokesperson for Equalities between 8 October 2024 and 4 March 2025.

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