The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has appointed Kate Shoesmith as its new Director of Policy and Insights. She will take up the position at the start of December and lead a 10-strong team of policy and research experts.

Kate is joining the BCC from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC). It is the professional membership body for the UK recruitment industry, where she has been the Deputy CEO for five years.

She started with the organisation in March 2013 and has worked in a variety of roles, including Head of Policy & Public Affairs, Head of Member Engagement and Director of Sales & Marketing.

Before joining REC, she worked at City & Guilds and the Federation of Awarding Bodies. She was also a Vice President of the World Employment Confederation (Europe) and a non-executive board member for the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative.

Her career means she has spent more than a decade representing the views of business to government, and over 20 years campaigning on key issues holding back the UK economy and society.