Sam Gyimah confirmed as new childcare minister

Sam Gyimah, MP for East Surrey, who was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education last week, has confirmed on Twitter he will be responsible for childcare and the early years.

Mr Gyimah replaces Elizabeth Truss who was given the job of environment minister.

Born in the UK and educated at state schools in the UK and Ghana, Sam Gyimah was elected MP for East Surrey in 2010 and is the only minister in the Department for Education who did not go to private school.

He was appointed a Government Whip in October 2013, having previously served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and in the political unit at 10 Downing Street. He was also a member of the International Development Select Committee from 2011 to 2012.    

Prior to politics, Mr Gyimah worked at Goldman Sachs advising corporate clients in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Equities divisions. He left Goldman to develop small businesses in the training, employment and internet sectors, winning CBI Entrepreneur of the Future in 2005.

Since entering parliament, Mr Gyimah has campaigned on issues covering education, small business, and protecting the greenbelt. In 2011 Sam co-authored a paper on improving access to finance and calling for greater support for alternative lenders, which the Government adopted.

Locally he has also led successful campaigns to create apprenticeships for young people.

Mr Gyimah is married with one son.