Skills on the Agenda for New Chamber President

17th January 2022

Karen Mosley, Managing Director of HLM Architects, takes the reigns as new President of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, pledging to support and focus on levelling up skills across Sheffield.

In November 2021, Sheffield Chamber was delighted to inaugurate Karen Mosley as the new President of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce. As the Chamber’s 114th President, and only 3rd woman to hold the position, Karen’s aim for her presidential term is to focus on helping the Chamber unlock the untapped potential in Sheffield’s communities. Her ambition is to make it easier for younger people in Sheffield to follow their dreams by finding the job or starting the business that changes their life.

This comes at a pivotal time, as leading organisations across South Yorkshire come together to deliver the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) under the Government’s Skills Accelerator programme. Currently piloting with eight trailblazer regions including South Yorkshire, the Skills Accelerator aims to rethink the region’s approach to skills development. By placing employers at the heart of the skills provision, it strives to create an agile and responsive skills system that offers new ways of training and empowering people in education and the workforce.

Hitting the ground running, Karen has been appointed Chair of the Skills Accelerator Board, playing a central role in driving this project forward.

Karen said:

“Individuals with talent and aspirations are too often held back by the system. I want to change this landscape, so our young people’s future is not shaped by their background, but by their hard work and determination. This is extremely close to my heart, as I myself experienced these same barriers 35 years ago at school.

“To do this, we need to remove the obstacles and barriers that our young people face. And through LSIP, we are challenging ourselves to think differently. This project is bringing together voices and insights from our business community, skills providers, and wider stakeholders, to create a robust response around the skills needs which are relevant to our region.

“I am delighted to be part of driving this forward, and delighted that my new role as Sheffield Chamber President provides an avenue where I can support this change. I am determined to focus on helping the Chamber to unlock the untapped potential in our communities during my presidency.”

Alexis Krachai, Co-executive Director of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Karen Mosley in to such a central and important role of the Chamber.

“Karen brings a wealth of experience with her. Her commitment and passion to enable and support people to grow and flourish, not only supports our regions agenda to skills, but also supports the Chamber’s mission in making Sheffield the best place to start, grow and run a successful business.”

For more information on Karen, visit the Sheffield Chamber website here. For more information on LSIP and to discover how to get involved visit www.sy-skillsaccelerator.co.uk.