Make UK, the body representing Britain’s manufacturers, has appointed the Rt Hon Robert Halfon as its new Executive Director for Policy, Membership and External Affairs. Halfon, who served as MP for Harlow from 2010 to 2024, replaces Ben Fletcher, who has left to take up a chief executive role at another trade body. Halfon has been at the forefront of apprenticeships and skills policy throughout his political career, serving twice as Minister of State for Apprenticeships at the Department for Education (2016–2017 and 2022–2024). As Apprenticeships Minister, Halfon drove reforms that changed careers advice in schools, launched the Skills for Life campaign, and backed the creation of UCAS for Apprenticeships, giving vocational pathways equal weight to university. Commenting on his new role, Halfon said: “I am excited to join Make UK, the most influential business group in the UK representing ‘the makers’ — our manufacturers.