Tag: Business and Trade Department

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 6 October 2025.

Nicola Smith and Dave Penman have been appointed by ministers as worker members of the Acas Council.

Ministers at the Department for Business and Trade have confirmed the appointment of two new members to the Council of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) today.  

Acas is an independent public body which provides free and impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives on, employment rights, best practice and policies, and resolving workplace conflict.  

It is governed by a Council which determines the organisation’s strategic direction, policies and priorities, with council members appointed based on their professional expertise in either business or trade unions. 

Nicola Smith and Dave Penman have been added to the council as worker members. 

Biographies 

Nicola Smith 

• Nicola has been Director or Policy at the Trade Union Congress since 2024. She was previously the Head of Rights, Social and Economic Affairs from 2023 to 2024; Interim Chief Executive, Timewise, from 2022 to 2023; and Assistant Director, Stakeholder Engagement, The Nursing and Midwifery Council, from 2020 to 2022. Nicola is also a Labour Market Advisory Board Member. 

Dave Penman  

• Dave has been General Secretary of the FDA since 2012, having joined as a National Officer in 2000. He has also been a member of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) General Council since 2012; and TUC Executive Committee since 2023. He is a Member of the TUC Finance Committee and a TUC Trustee.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 3 October 2025.

UK-Greenland trade deal talks resume to deliver cheaper seafood for British shoppers 

• Negotiations resume on UK-Greenland trade deal to slash tariffs on over £70m of seafood imports, cutting prices for British shoppers 
• Agreement will seek to strengthen cooperation on critical minerals and encourage further trade to boost economic growth and security, supporting the Plan for Change 
• Deeper strategic partnership with all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark will deliver security and prosperity in the Arctic, North Atlantic and at home 

British shoppers and restaurants could see the price of seafood fall with negotiations restarting on the UK’s trade deal with Greenland.  

Seafood products became subject to tariffs of up to 20% when the UK left the EU, increasing costs and restricting choice for British shoppers as well as restaurants and the seafood processing sector.  

A new agreement could reverse this by eliminating tariffs to benefit consumers and businesses including the likes of Grimsby Fish Market and Royal Greenland UK. Giving British businesses greater and more targeted access to global markets to help drive growth is a key part of the UK’s Trade Strategy. 

Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are central partners in the Arctic and North Atlantic, regions of strategic importance to UK and NATO security and prosperity. Deepening long-term relationships will support our shared economic interests, demonstrate Britain’s commitment to the Arctic and secure strong foundations as part of the Plan for Change.   

The announcement follows UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer attending the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen of Greenland and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark. 

Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:  

This partnership represents an opportunity to restore our trading relationship with Greenland and deliver real benefits for British families and businesses.  

By eliminating tariffs on Greenlandic seafood, we can help to bring down prices on supermarket shelves whilst supporting thousands of jobs in our fish-packing industry, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change. 

Andrew Wrigley, Country Director at Royal Greenland UK, said: 

We welcome the renewed negotiations on a trade agreement between Greenland and the United Kingdom. A modernised deal that reduces tariffs on seafood would strengthen our long-standing commercial ties and ensure continued access to high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood for our British consumers.

For Royal Greenland, it represents not only an economic opportunity but also a reaffirmation of our role as a reliable trading partner in the North Atlantic. We see this as a step towards deeper cooperation built on shared interests and mutual respect.

Martyn Boyers, Chief Executive of Grimsby Fish Market and Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, said:  

Greenland plays an important role in the Seafood Industry and historically there have been strong partnerships with the UK, creating trade and opportunities for both sides.

Creating a platform for talks to restart and further cooperation can only be a good thing, especially for Grimsby, where a lot of the product imported from Greenland – particularly frozen prawns and white fish – is brought for packing by local seafood businesses.

Greenland remains a key exporter of seafood to the UK, with the UK importing around £70 million seafood products from Greenland each year; primarily comprising prawns, shrimp, and cod. 

The deal could also support the UK’s seafood processing industry, which employed almost 16,000 people in 2024. 

Beyond seafood, the UK will seek a deal that strengthens supply chains that could offer opportunities in critical minerals, where UK firms currently hold a third of mining licences in Greenland.  

Developing these supply chains responsibly together with Greenland and our partners will safeguard strategically important industries, strengthen British and European long-term economic security and reduce dependence on volatile global markets. 

Eldur Olafsson, CEO of UK listed Amaroq Ltd, said:  

The resumption of talks is very good news for Greenland’s emerging mining sector and reaffirms the strategic importance of Greenland’s mineral resources to the global economy.

As the most active mining and exploration company in Greenland, including of critical metals such as copper and nickel, we look forward to collaborating with the UK to establish a sustainable supply chain for these essential materials.

This would be Greenland’s first bilateral free trade agreement and aims to be a platform for deeper cooperation spanning research and innovation, climate change, sustainable tourism, renewable energy and education. This builds on the UK’s recent £81m investment in the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) programme on Greenland climate tipping points.  

Together with Greenland and Denmark, the UK is delivering a more prosperous and secure Arctic. 

Notes to editors: 

• Between 2022 and 2024 the UK imported an average £70 million seafood from Greenland each year. Sourced from HMRC import data by preference July 2025 – data on a country of origin basis.  
• Employment figures sourced from Seafish – Seafood Processing Industry Performance 2024. In 2024 seafood processors employed 15,868 FTE workers. 
• Negotiations for a UK-Greenland Free Trade Agreement opened in 2022, to reinstate tariff-free trade that ended when the UK left the EU. This agreement was paused prior to the UK’s 2024 general election.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 2 October 2025.

Hardy will be responsible for statutory functions relating to trade unions and employers’ associations.

The Department of Business and Trade has today (1st October) announced the appointment of Stephen Hardy as the new Certification Officer. 

The independent Certification Officer is responsible for statutory functions relating to trade unions and employers’ associations. 

Stephen Hardy will take up his role on 1 October 2025, replacing Sarah Bedwell, who has held the post since 2017. 

Biography 

Stephen Hardy is a Professor of Employment Law and formerly the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Law & Politics at the University of Hull (2020-2024). He has over 3 decades experience in higher education and was a practising Barrister, specialising in Employment and Public law, instructed in complex trades union, equality, redundancy, dismissal and judicial review cases; including being appointed Regional Treasury Counsel and on the Panel of Preferred Counsel of the Equality Human Rights Commission. Since 2011, he has been a Fee-paid Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal and was a member of the Judicial Pensions Board (2019-2023). Currently, he is a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee. In 2021 he was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and since 2022, has been a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 23 September 2025.

Peter Kyle and Chris McDonald met JLR’s CEO and senior executives at its Gaydon headquarters to discuss latest situation.

• Business Secretary and Industry Minister visited Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) today to show support for the company and meet with supply chain businesses.
• Government is in daily contact with JLR and cyber experts to listen to concerns and what support can be provided to get production back online.
• Government is continuing to work with industry to deliver security for the sector as part of modern Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change.

Today [23 September], Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Industry Minister Chris McDonald met with JLR’s CEO and senior executives during a visit to the company’s Gaydon headquarters.

Discussions included talks on the impacts of the cyber incident and how JLR can work towards restarting production. 

Ministers received in-person briefings on the latest situation, before touring the site and hearing from workers who have been off work since the cyber incident occurred. 

During these discussions, both Ministers acknowledged the severity of the situation which is impacting a key sector that supports thousands of skilled jobs which enables growth and innovation across the UK’s manufacturing sector.

This is the latest show of support for the firm and wider auto sector as the government is delivering the biggest set of announcements for the sector in the last decade – including securing landmark trade deals to boost exports and updating the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate to support UK manufacturers to safeguard jobs in the auto industry.

Following the visit, the Business Secretary and Minister for Industry also visited Webasto’s Sutton Coldfield site to engage with the impacted supply chain firm and learn about the supply chain’s resilience following the cyber incident.  

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:  

I know this is a deeply worrying time for all those affected by the ongoing cyber incident and that’s why I visited JLR today to hear from the company, supply chain and workers. 

Getting JLR back online as soon as possible is my top priority, providing much needed certainty to workers and suppliers. 

This government is on the side of our world-leading automotive sector and by working closely with JLR and the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) we are doing everything we can to minimise the impact of this incident, as well as helping the sector thrive long into the future through our modern Industrial Strategy.

Since last week Ministers have met with representatives from businesses, trade unions, trade associations and local authorities to discuss the impacts of the ongoing incident and show support, while the National Cyber Security Centre is working tirelessly to help coordinate the operational response to the incident.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 7 September 2025.

The Business and Trade Secretary is flying to Washington on Sunday evening to meet White House senior advisors, CEOs and business leaders to make progress on the UK Tech partnership and strengthen the UK US relationship ahead of the State Visit.

The visit comes only one day after he spoke with over 100 business leaders on Saturday afternoon where he set out his priorities for the department including doubling down on economic growth, the Government’s central mission.

He is set to meet Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, as well as Sriram Krishnan, Senior AI Advisor at the White House to discuss the AI Pillar of the Tech Partnership.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:

“From day one in the job I’ve been clear that my mission is to drive forward economic growth and to give businesses across the country the opportunities they need to thrive as part of the Plan for Change.

“My first visit to Washington as Business Secretary is key to strengthening our special relationship as we face global challenges together and building momentum on our Tech Partnership and trade deal ahead of the historic State Visit.”

While in Washington he will also meet Benito Minicucci, CEO Alaska Airlines and Guillaume Faury, CEO Airbus to further cement our position as a top investment destination.

After a full day of meetings, the Secretary of State will fly directly to China as part of delivering secure economic growth with one of the world’s largest economies.

 

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 1 September 2025.

Employment Rights Minister visits an Aldi supermarket in Watford following the retailer’s decision to make its staff the best paid in the UK.

• Store assistants at Aldi to receive a big pay boost from today as the retailer becomes among the first to pay at least £13.02 per hour to all staff.
• Minister visits store to celebrate businesses putting money back in the pockets of working people in line with the government’s Plan for Change.
• Move builds on existing steps to support around 3 million working people and their families through April’s minimum wage increases, including record rises for younger workers.

One of the UK’s leading supermarkets has introduced a big pay boost for its store assistants today as Aldi becomes the first supermarket to pay staff over £13 per hour.

The move builds on Aldi’s status as the only retailer to offer all workers paid breaks, worth approximately £1,425 per year for the average store colleague and demonstrates how forward-thinking businesses are recognising that good pay and strong rights are key factors in retaining and increasing productivity in their workforce.

During a visit this morning to Aldi’s branch in Watford, Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders joined workers and executives in celebrating this latest investment by Aldi, a decision which demonstrates how businesses can lead the way in Making Work Pay. The Minister discussed the contribution this, and other businesses increasing pay, will have on raising living standards across the country alongside the government’s Plan for Change.

Aldi’s new minimum rate of £13.02 nationwide, rising to £14.35 within the M25, and increasing to £14.66 with length of service, is above the recently uplifted National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour. This will also be paid to staff regardless of age, a move in step with the government’s ambition to end discriminatory age bands which allow 18-20 year olds from being paid less than their older peers, and the Low Pay Commission is to consult on removing following its new remit.

Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders said:

Paying workers a good wage isn’t just the right thing to do; it creates a strong workplace culture and saves businesses money through better productivity and staff retention.

Our Plan for Change has already put thousands back in the pockets of workers through our increases the minimum wage, and it’s great to see businesses like Aldi going above and beyond to deliver higher pay that truly shows how they value their workforce.

The changes to the National Minimum Wage come as part of the plan to Make Work Pay, working alongside the Employment Rights Bill to deliver the biggest uplift to workers’ rights in a generation.

15 million, or half of all, workers are set to benefit from new entitlements such as improved access to flexible working, the end of exploitative zero hours contracts through a right to guaranteed hours, and day one rights to sick pay, parental leave and protection against unfair dismissal.

Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said:

Our colleagues are at the heart of our success, and we’re committed to ensuring they are fully rewarded for the outstanding work they do.

This higher than planned pay rise is part of our promise to never be beaten on pay.

The Minister’s visit underscores the government’s commitment to working with the millions of businesses that recognise the value of investing in their workforce and supporting employees with fair pay that reflects the hard work they put in every day.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• When setting the minimum wage rates, the Low Pay Commission also factors in costs to businesses and whether rises to the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage are affordable.
• Earlier this year:
• The National Living Wage for those aged 21 and over rose from £11.44 per hour to £12.21 per hour.
• The National Minimum Wage for 18- to 20-year-olds rose from £8.60 to £10.00 per hour.
• The apprenticeship rate, and for 16- to 17-year-olds rose from £6.40 per hour to £7.55 per hour.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 28 August 2025.

Small food and drink exporters across the UK are set for a major boost in sales thanks to substantial package agreed with the EU.

• Businesses exporting food and drink to the EU to benefit from major SPS Agreement adding £5.1bn to the UK economy every year
• As part of the Plan for Change, the agreement will boost agrifood trade with the EU, the UK’s largest trading partner
• Major British firm, Neal’s Yard Dairy, welcomes agreement during visit from Exports Minister

Small food and drink exporters across the UK are set for a major boost in sales thanks to substantial package agreed with the EU.

This includes measures to slash costs and burdensome red tape on agriproducts such as dairy, fish, eggs and red meat, so UK businesses can spend more time and money selling their world-renowned products abroad.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, the package will increase access to the UK’s largest market, to grow exports, create jobs and make our supply chains more resilient, helping to reduce pressure on prices.

In 2024 alone, the food and drink sector in Britain employed 3.8 million people.

Neal’s Yard Dairy – an artisanal cheese-maturer, retailer and wholesaler – is one of the thousands of small businesses set to benefit the most from the deal. Based in London, the dairy runs a thriving exports business, selling their award-winning cheeses to customers and retailers across Europe and the world.

On Thursday, the Minister for Small Businesses and Exports, Gareth Thomas, visited their Bermondsey branch to meet with Director David Lockwood and his employees to discuss the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement and the ways it will benefit the business and others in the sector.

Speaking at Neal’s Yard Dairy in Bermondsey, Gareth Thomas, Minister for Small Businesses and Exports, said:

The UK’s food and drink sector has huge exporting potential and Neal’s Yard Dairy demonstrates that alongside the right government action, small firms can expand internationally into new and existing markets.

Through our Trade Strategy, three landmark trade deals and our Small Business Strategy this Government’s Plan for Change is breaking down barriers for exporters to increase trade, create jobs, and grow the economy.

As part of the substantial package agreed at the first UK-EU Summit in May, the Government has agreed to a new and expansive SPS agreement with the EU.

This will benefit a wide range of producers and retailers with over 1,500 UK products currently affected by SPS measures.

For artisan producers like Neal’s Yard, who often deal in small batches and can’t afford delays due to the perishable nature of cheese, this agreement will be especially beneficial.

Routine SPS border checks will be eliminated so fresh produce can hit supermarket shelves more quickly, with less paperwork and fewer costs.

Currently, Great British goods are subject to 100 percent documentary checks and up to 30 percent physical checks. The deal will see these removed entirely.

Once agreed, it is expected to add up to £5.1 billion a year to the economy and increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16 percent.

David Lockwood, Director at Neil’s Yard Dairy, said:

Neal’s Yard Dairy looks forward to the UK and EU implementing the UK-EU ‘reset’ agreement as quickly as possible to allow us to focus our core business: selecting, maturing and selling British cheese both within the UK and overseas.

The additional requirements for export to the EU post-Brexit have cost our business in many ways. A major impediment is the requirement that our EU bound shipments have health certificates for cheese signed off by official veterinarians; this has doubled the time between customers ordering and receiving goods, a very effective cost inflater and sales killer. The removal of this non-tariff trade barrier is greatly anticipated.

Beyond the SPS agreement, the Minister and David Lockwood also discussed the Government’s export support offer, which is now easily accessible in one place through the new Business Growth Service, launched in the Plan for Small Businesses.

As part of the Plan, the Government has also expanded UK Export Finance’s capacity by £20 billion to £80 billion to support more smaller firms win business and increase sales overseas.

Both the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have supported Neal’s Yard Dairy to increase exports through retail introductions, webinars and trade missions.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 20 August 2025.

Major win for Northern Ireland’s high-tech sectors from the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, supporting local jobs and growth.

• Industry Minister Sarah Jones visits Belfast to welcome local investments including £30m for innovative tech projects and £2m for Queen’s University Belfast’s cutting-edge cyber AI tech hub.
• Minister to host roundtables with Northern Ireland industry leaders including Artemis Technologies, Thales, Harland & Wolff, Ionic Technologies to promote Industrial Strategy benefits for local people.

Science and technology projects in Northern Ireland in key industries of the future, such as cybersecurity, are set to be boosted by at least £30 million from the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy.

Industry Minister Sarah Jones visited Belfast today to celebrate this news and other recent wins for the city that are delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change to increase economic growth and jobs.

Delivered as part of the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, the package, to be allocated by local leaders, will build on successful pilots in other parts of the UK which have attracted more than £140 million of private investment and created hundreds of jobs so far.

The new funding could go to support Northern Ireland’s thriving cybersecurity sector, which is home to 100 businesses and 2,750 jobs. It comes on top of £2 million of UK Government funding for Queen’s University Belfast’s Cybersecurity AI Tech Hub, confirmed in June, helping Northern Ireland lead the way on cutting-edge technology to keep the UK safe.

UK Government Industry Minister Sarah Jones said:

From defence and cyber to the creative industries Northern Ireland’s economy has great strengths, which is why I’m in Belfast speaking to businesses about how our modern Industrial Strategy can help them grow and create well-paid jobs for local people.

This includes millions for Northern Ireland’s cyber and tech sectors, £1.6 billion supporting Thales to make missiles for Ukraine, and an Enhanced Investment Zone to tear down barriers to growth and boost prosperity across Northern Ireland, as part of our Plan for Change.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said:

This is great news for Northern Ireland and for the businesses that will benefit from this Government’s modern Industrial Strategy.

The investment being announced today will create new opportunities, support long-term growth and innovation, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen fast-growing sectors like advanced manufacturing and the creative industries.

Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing sectors are also being boosted via a wider package of support from the Government’s Industrial Strategy – from advanced manufacturing to creative industries – which Minister Jones celebrated today with visits to some of Northern Ireland’s top companies and employers.

This included defence, cybersecurity and aerospace firm Thales, which was recently awarded a £1.6 billion missile contract with UK Government backing to defend Ukraine, creating 200 new jobs and supporting 700 highly skilled existing jobs.

Minister Jones then visited Ionic Technologies to see their progress so far in developing a rare earth magnetic recycling process to support the UK’s electric vehicle transition, following a £11 million grant from the Government in June.

She visited Harland & Wolff’s iconic Belfast shipyard for an update on their commitments to invest in Northern Ireland and to discuss opportunities to work together to deliver local growth and investment through the Industrial Strategy.

Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to Northern Ireland’s success, it comes after the Chancellor’s visit to Belfast earlier this month where she confirmed £310 million for the Belfast Region City Deal, including over £25 million for world class virtual production studio, Studio Ulster, and £137 million to tackle paramilitarism and create safer streets.

Designs are also underway for a bespoke Enhanced Investment Zone for Northern Ireland, delivered with the Executive, which will tear away barriers to growth and could include further new funding, tax and investment incentives.

The ministerial visits this summer will be followed on 11 September by the Government’s Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow in Belfast. It will put a spotlight on the city’s creative sector and will host 18 market experts from around the world, including from the US, Germany and UAE.

Notes to editors

• The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund has so far earmarked at least £30 million each for ten regions across the UK, with 7 English regions confirmed alongside the Glasgow City Region, Cardiff Capital Region, and the Belfast to Derry-Londonderry Corridor.

Information on the upcoming Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow:

• The Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow takes place in Belfast on Thursday 11 September at The MAC.  Businesses will have the opportunity to meet with relevant, overseas creative buyers, and sector/market specialists from UK embassies and consulates overseas.
• There will also be peer learning sessions, workshops focusing on overseas markets and developing your international strategy, networking opportunities and an inspiring and informative seminar programme. Whether you are a Creative business or sit in another sector, join us in Belfast by registering here.

The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 18 August 2025.

The Secretary of State is pleased to announce the appointment of Ceri Morgan as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Europe, succeeding Chris Barton from 1 September.

Morgan brings a wealth of experience across multiple sectors to this critical role.

In her most recent position she led the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on international trade, international food security, and heading the government’s overseas agri-food attaché network to tackle market access barriers for UK exports.

Prior to this, Morgan returned to the civil service to establish and lead the Global Trade Negotiations team at Defra after the EU referendum, spearheading the negotiation of agri-food aspects of trade deals.

In His Majesty the King’s first Birthday Honours, Morgan was made a Commander of the British Empire for her services to Capability and Inclusion in International Trade.

We wish her every success in this vital role for the UK.

Ceri Morgan, Director of EU and International Trade at Defra, said:

I am delighted to have been appointed His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe and can’t wait to get to know the team later this year and work together to deliver this government’s trade objectives in Europe.

These markets are crucial to the success of the newly launched trade, industrial, and small business strategies for HMG’s Growth agenda and I am thrilled to be leading our efforts.

Chris Barton, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Europe, said:

It has been a great privilege to serve as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe. Working across government and our diplomatic network, we’ve made real progress in strengthening trade ties, opening doors for UK businesses, and attracting investment that supports jobs and growth at home.

I’d like to give particular praise to my delightful, talented, industrious, and collaborative team members, who work day in and day out to support British interests across the continent.

I’m delighted to hand over to Ceri Morgan, whose leadership and experience will be invaluable in driving this important work forward.

The HM Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Europe leads a team of over 300 staff in 34 countries across the continent, working to encourage a thriving trade and investment relationship between the UK and other European countries.

The Trade Commissioner has responsibility for all Department for Business and Trade (DBT) work in Europe including:

• Improving market access for UK companies in Europe
• Attracting inward investment from European companies into UK
• Encouraging UK exports to Europe
• Influencing multilateral trade policy with Europe
• Delivering on the commitments made in the UK’s newly published Trade Strategy

The HMTC works closely with UK based government colleagues, UK ambassadors and the wider diplomatic network in Europe in delivering these goals.

Together they engage extensively with UK and European businesses, European governments and wider stakeholders.