BCC Appoints New Director Of Policy and Insights

25th November 2025

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. 

She replaces Alex Veitch who left the BCC in August to become CEO of the Confederation of Paper Industries.  

Commenting on her appointment, Kate said:   

 

“Businesses are the engine of growth in the UK economy, but they cannot fire on all cylinders if costs, regulations and bureaucracy rob them of impetus.  

 

“Supporting firms should be fundamental to the Government's mission, and I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in and carrying firms' views and insights into the heart of government.  

 

“We need to work in partnership to deliver workable solutions to current economic blockers which stifle our joint quest for strong and sustained growth. 

 

“That starts at the Budget, where we need to see support on exports, infrastructure and skills - alongside no further taxes on business.” 

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

"After two decades of championing the views of businesses and organisations on skills, training and recruitment, Kate brings to the BCC an impressive campaigning record.  Her long-term commitment to these causes, means she has a deep understanding of what’s broken and how to fix it. 

 

“I look forward working with her as she helps build the BCC’s national policy, based on our renowned research programme, for the benefit of all businesses and our economy."