Born in Hertfordshire in 1968, Grant Shapps was educated at Watford Grammar and Cassio College Watford, before studying Business & Finance at Manchester in the late 1980s. In 1990, Grant founded his own printing company at the age of just 21.
Before getting into politics, Grant started a small printing shop, which grew into a commercial design, print & web development company with clients throughout the UK and the rest of the world. Grant successfully established a team of fellow Directors who now run the business today without his input.
Grant married his wife Belinda in 1997. The couple live in Welwyn Hatfield and play an active role in the community. They have a boy named Hadley born in 2001 and twins born in April 2004 called Tabytha and Noa. Grant holds a pilot’s licence and enjoys general aviation as a pastime.
He was first elected to the seat of Welwyn Hatfield in 2005 and has held the seat ever since. In August 2023, Grant was made Secretary of State for Defence.
Before that, in February 2023, he was made the first Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. In October 2022, Grant was made Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
He has also previously served as the Secretary of State for the Home Department from 19 October 2022 to 25 October 2022 He was made Secretary of State for Transport between 24 July 2019 and 6 September 2022, and Minister of State at the Department for International Development from 11 May 2015 until 28 November 2015.
He was Chairman of the Conservative Party from September 2012 to May 2015, helping the Conservatives win the 2015 General Election.
