New deck chairs at the Department of Trade and Industry

Following the recent elections in the UK, the government has announced the appointment of Mr Alan Johnson as the new Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Shortly after his appointment, Mr. Alan Johnson announced the responsibilities of the new ministerial team at the DTI.

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He said: "This is a strong team of ministers to take forward our objective of creating the best climate for business success. I am delighted to welcome Barry Gardiner, Alun Michael, Meg Munn, Ian Pearson and Malcolm Wicks to the department. They bring a wealth of expertise and skills which will be invaluable to the new team. I am also pleased that Gerry Sutcliffe and Lord Sainsbury will be remaining in the Department." Lord Sainsbury will remain as the minister for science and innovation.

Ministerial responsibilities Secretary of State for trade and industry: the Rt Hon Alan Johnson; overall responsibility for the department.

Ministers of state Minister for industry and the regions The Rt Hon Alun Michael; responsibility for enterprise, growth and business sectors (including construction), strengthening regional economies, Small Business Service (SBS), social enterprise, E-commerce, communications and information industries, GM issues.

Parliamentary Under Secretaries of State Minister for science and innovation: Lord David Sainsbury; science and engineering, 10-year investment framework for science and innovation, office of science and technology (OST), research councils, knowledge transfer and innovation, technology strategy, patent office, national weights and measures laboratory (NWML), bioscience (excluding GM), British national space centre (BNSC).

Minister for trade (joint with FCO): Ian Pearson; UK EU Presidency, Europe and world trade policy, UK trade and investment (UKTI), the export credits guarantee department (ECGD).

Minister for competiitiveness: Barry Gardiner; shareholder executive (including Royal Mail), Companies House, better regulation; supports Ian Pearson on export credits guarantee department (ECGD); supports Alun Michael on small business issues.

Minister for energy: Malcolm Wicks; energy issues, sustainability and the environment, security of energy supply, fuel poverty, nuclear security and export control, corporate social responsibility.

Deputy Minister for women and equality: Meg Munn; reporting to the Rt Hon Alan Johnson on equality issues, and to the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell (Secretary of State for culture, media and sport) on women's issues.

New chair for small business council
The DTI minister, Alan Johnson, also announced the appointment of Julie Kenny CBE as the new chair of the Small Business Council (SBC). Ms Kenny will take up the post from 1 July, succeeding William Sargent whose term of appointment ends on 30 June.

The council has 23 members and advises the government about the needs of small business. The chair also acts as an independent voice for small firms in government and attends the Prime Minister's panel for regulatory accountability.

Mr Johnson said: "I am delighted that Julie Kenny has agreed to take the position of chair of the Small Business Council. She clearly understands the needs of small firms, having built up a thriving business manufacturing and exporting security equipment in South Yorkshire where she has worked tirelessly for small business and enterprise. This appointment will provide a national outlet for her energy and enthusiasm.”

"I would also like to pay tribute to her predecessor, William Sargent who has done a terrific job ensuring the government clearly hears the views of small businesses up and down the country."

Julie Kenny said, "I am thrilled to have been appointed to chair the Small Business Council and look forward to working with the council members and government to ensure the issues small businesses face are understood and acted upon in Whitehall."

The SBC is an advisory, non-departmental public body that was set up in May 2000. It reports to the Secretary of State for trade and industry on the needs of existing and potential small business in order to increase their opportunities for success and growth. It also advises the chief executive of the Small Business Service and reports on the effects on such businesses of the activities and potential activities of the government including the Small Business Service itself.

The Council has 23 members including the Chair, 22 of whom are small business entrepreneurs and one academic. They come from all parts of the UK and run businesses spanning many sectors.

Julie Kenny is managing director and major shareholder of Pyronix Limited, based in Rotherham . Pyronix manufactures an extensive range of electronic security equipment for intruder alarms. In addition to her role in business and as a working mother, Kenny acts as chair of the South Yorkshire New Deal Employers' Coalition, chair of Business Link South Yorkshire and chair of Rotherham Partnership. Julie sits on the boards of: Yorkshire Forward, South Yorkshire Partnership, and Creative Sheffield.

She has also been made an honorary director of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce following her presidency and many years on the board, and she is a director of the British Security Industry Association.

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