Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive joins other Chamber CEOs at Downing Street

Chamber Chief Executives from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) were invited to have a meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to raise awareness and discuss solutions on a variety of key challenges that are currently topping the business agenda.

The Chamber network spoke to the Chancellor on three main issues: utilising planning for growth, sorting out the National Grid queuing system and tackling the UK’s tight labour market.

Louisa Harrison-Walker’s presence at this meeting was key to ensuring that Sheffield, and South Yorkshire, continue to have a strong voice on a national level. This ensures that the issues affecting individuals and businesses in South Yorkshire are raised, understood, and hopefully, addressed.

The timing of the meeting came as South Yorkshire was announced as the UK’s first ‘Investment Zone’. Communities in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley can expect thousands of new jobs and £1.2 billion of investment as part of the scheme.

Louisa Harrison-Walker, CEO of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said:

“It was an honour to be invited to represent Sheffield and South Yorkshire at the BCC’s meeting with the Chancellor earlier this month.

“With the incredible growth we are currently witnessing in Sheffield and the wider region, planning was a key topic that needed to be addressed, and I’m glad that we were given the time to discuss this in detail.

“With meetings like these, we can ensure that the Government are aware of the key issues impacting business, so they can support us not only on a national level, but locally and regionally as well.”

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“It was incredibly useful to connect Chamber Chief Executives and the businesses they represent with the Chancellor today to lay out their experiences on the ground.

“It was encouraging to see the Chancellor listening so intently to discussions around unlocking the potential for greater investment in our local areas as well as the importance of getting UK businesses back to growth.

“It’s by having conversations like these that we can work with Government to make a real difference for firms on the frontline of the economy and give them the tools they need for success.”

The British Chambers of Commerce is an amalgamation of all the regional chambers to represent the interests of businesspeople across the UK. Their opinions are sought by policymakers and parliamentarians alike and they have been helping to shape the UK’s business agenda for more than 160 years.

The Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, as part of the wider BCC, represents Sheffield on a regional and national level, and helps businesses to grow and build communities.

Like many other Chambers around the UK, Sheffield Chamber is made up of a community of board members, council members, patrons, and champions. Being a part of this community is where the action is and it’s where businesspeople from around the region can share their expertise and insight to shape what the organisation has to say on prominent issues.

To find out more about Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, or to get involved, visit: www.scci.org.uk