What is BIS (Business, Innovation & Skills)?

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was a UK government department from 2009 to 2016, responsible for business policy, higher education, science and trade. In July 2016 BIS merged with the Department for Energy and Climate Change to become the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS); since 2023 its functions sit within DSIT, DBT and DESNZ. Older guidance documents are still often cited under the BIS name.