There is a new Prime Minister in Downing Street, and with him comes one of the biggest Whitehall reshuffles in years. There were a few eyebrows raised when one of Andy Burnham's first actions was to scrap the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the department set up in 2023 to bring research, AI, and tech policy under one roof.

It sounds like a big change, and it is. But for founders building in the UK, the story underneath the headline is more encouraging than it first appears.

Who is Andy Burnham?

Andy Burnham has become one of the most recognisable political figures in the North of England, building a reputation as a passionate advocate for greater investment, devolution and economic opportunity across the region. As Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, he has championed improvements to public transport, housing and skills while consistently arguing that the North deserves the same attention and opportunities as other parts of the UK.

Before becoming Mayor, Burnham served as a Labour MP and held several senior government positions. He also earned widespread respect for supporting the families of the 97 Liverpool football supporters who died in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster, playing a significant role in their long campaign for truth and justice. His commitment to the cause helped keep the issue in the national spotlight and contributed to the eventual recognition of the failures that led to the 1989 disaster and its aftermath.

A merger, not a retreat

Rather than being quietly folded away, DSIT's responsibilities are being brought together with the business and trade brief, forming a new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. In practice, that means innovation policy will now sit in the same department as business support and trade, rather than being handled as a separate silo.

One detail worth noting is that the government has confirmed a new dedicated Minister for AI, Kanishka Narayan, alongside a fresh AI taskforce based in a new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Whatever else changes, artificial intelligence is being treated as a strategic priority rather than an afterthought, which matters for the growing number of Innovator Founder Visa holders building AI-enabled businesses.

What this means for you

Reorganisations like this always bring a period of uncertainty, and the tech and research sectors have voiced concerns about losing a dedicated department that understood their world. That reaction is worth watching over the coming months.

For now, the practical advice for founders on the Innovator Founder Visa route is simple: nothing changes. Funding schemes, Innovate UK programmes, and support services will continue to operate while the transition beds in, and a merged department focused on business, innovation, science and trade could well make navigating that support easier rather than harder.

We will keep you updated as the new department takes shape, and what it means for the funding and support available to you as you build your business in Britain.