BERR replaced the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) just two years ago, at a reported cost of £218,063 (on the UK Parliament website). At least the name change stuck that time: in 2005, the DTI was rebranded as the Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry (DPEI) for just a week before the old name was reinstated, at the cost of a mere £30,000 (on the BBC website).

The BIS website has the announcement on the creation of the new department. For explanations of these and other confusing employment-related acronyms, visit XpertHR's employment glossary [subscription required].