Stephen Phipson CBE has been the Chief Executive of Make UK, the national business organisation representing the entire UK manufacturing sector, since joining in 2017.
Stephen previously spent five years as a senior civil servant holding the position of Head of the Defence and Security Organisation within the Department for International Trade, delivering export support to UK defence and security businesses through negotiating agreements with overseas governments. Prior to this, Stephen held the position of Director for Security Industry Engagement within the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism at the Home Office.
Before serving in the UK Government, Stephen held senior roles in the manufacturing industry, including 15 years with the FTSE business Smiths Group plc as President of Smiths Detection, where he was awarded a CBE by the Queen in 2010 for services to the security industry. Stephen has worked extensively abroad in high technology manufacturing businesses and started his career as an engineering apprentice with the Plessey company.
In January 2025, Stephen succeeded Lord Baker as the Chair of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, which works closely with the Department of Education to deliver the national network of University Technical Colleges that deliver high-quality, employer-led technical education.
