Minister for Business and Employment
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Political post Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The Minister for Business and Employment is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the Minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet.[1] The post was retitled in June 2025, with the Minister supporting the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes.[2]
History
From 1999 to 2007, enterprise and energy were the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. The Second McConnell government from 2003 to 2007 instituted Tourism as a portfolio, combined with Culture and Sport, as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.
The Salmond government, elected following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election created the junior post of Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism by combining the roles. In November 2014 his post became the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, as part of the first Sturgeon government. The post was retitled as Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy as part of the second Sturgeon government, and renamed again in June 2018 to Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills.[2] Upon the creation of the third Sturgeon Government, the post was once more retitled as Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise.
In March 2023, Humza Yousaf renamed the role Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade and appointed Richard Lochhead to the position.[3] In his streamlining of government upon becoming First Minister in May 2024, John Swinney renamed the post Minister for Business.[4] In June 2025, Swinney abolished the position of Minister for Employment and Investment and the employment portfolio was absorbed into the new role of Minister for Business and Employment, with Lochhead continuing in post.[5]
List of office holders
The current Minister for Business is Richard Lochhead.
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See also
References
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- ↑ Scotland Act (1998), Only those appointed under Section 47 of the Scotland Act "attend" Cabinet. Junior ministers are appointed under Section 49 and may be "present".
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External links
- Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy on Scottish Government website
Template:Junior Scottish Government Ministers Template:Tourism in the United Kingdom