Skills: How to get returns on your investment
Kevin Brennan MP - Minister for Further Education,
Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs
Kevin Brennan was appointed to the Department of Business
Innovation and Skills and the Department of Children Schools and
Families as Minister for FE, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer
Affairs on 8th June 2009.
Kevin Brennan was elected to Parliament in June 2001,
representing the constituency of Cardiff West. In 2004 Kevin was
appointed as PPS to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Alan
Milburn. After the 2005 general Election he became a Junior Whip in
the Government Whips Office and in 2006 promoted to Lords
Commissioner to the Treasury, a senior Government Whip position. In
June 2007 Kevin was appointed to the Department for Children,
schools and families as Minister for Young People and Families and
following the reshuffle in October 2008, was appointed as Minister
for the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.
Previously, Kevin Brennan worked as Rhodri Morgan's
constituency-based researcher from 1995, acting as his agent and
Campaign Manager in the 1999 and 2000 Welsh Labour leadership
contests. From March 2000 until May 2001, he acted as Rhodri
Morgan's Special Advisor at the Welsh Assembly.
Kevin Brennan was born in Cwmbran, South Wales, on 16 October
1959. He was educated at St Alban's Roman Catholic Comprehensive
School in Pontypool, before going up to Pembroke College, Oxford,
where he took a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. After
graduating, Kevin took a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at
the University of Wales, Cardiff, and then an Msc in Education and
Management at the University of Glamorgan.
Before becoming Mr Morgan's full-time aide in 1995, he was Head
of Economics at Radyr Comprehensive School in Cardiff. Between 1991
and 2001 he was a member of Cardiff City Council, and then Cardiff
City and County, Council representing the ward of Canton. During
this time he served as Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the
Economic Scrutiny Committee and Vice-Chair of the Economic
Development.
Kevin was the Chairman and founding member of the All Party
Parliamentary Group on Muscular Dystrophy. The Group aims to bring
together Parliamentarians, scientists, and muscular dystrophy
charities and campaigners in an attempt to raise public awareness
of muscular dystrophy and actively find a cure for all forms of
dystrophy. He was named epolitix Disability Charity Champion 2005
for his work on Muscular Dystrophy.