Former minister Halfon appointed to key Make UK role
19 Oct 2025
Make UK has appointed former Tory minister Robert Halfon as its new executive director responsible for policy membership and external affairs.
Halfon, who previously chaired the Make UK Skills Commission, replaces Ben Fletcher who has become chief executive of Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association.
The Tory MP for Harlow from 2010 to 2024, Halfon has twice been apprenticeships minister at the Department for Education (DfE).
Previously chair of the Education Select Committee he was the Spectator’s Minister of the Year in 2024, Backbencher of the Year in 2022 and Campaigner of the Year in 2013.
As a minister, he backed the promotion of apprenticeships by schools careers offices, launched the Skills for Life campaign and supported the development of UCAS for Apprenticeships – providing them equal status alongside university applications.
Make UK also emphasised Halfon’s role in eliminating training costs for SMEs who hire young apprentices, ending the cap on the number of apprentices SMEs can employ and legislating for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to transform adult access to skills.
Lord Harrington, Make UK chair, said: “Rob will bring invaluable knowledge of Westminster and Whitehall that will help Make UK build on its campaigning role for manufacturers across the UK.
“In particular, his expertise across the skills landscape, especially on apprenticeships, will be especially vital in helping the sector tackle one of the biggest challenges it faces in building a talent pipeline for the future.”
