TWO appointments have been made by overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, to deliver its growing range of services.

Lucy Jones, a former senior export administrator with a textile company, joins the Bradford-based organisation as export-import services co-ordinator, matching the needs of businesses to its wide range of assistance.

University graduate Sam Paley has been appointed an international trade administrator.

Before working at Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, Guiseley, where Ms Jones managed very large national and international accounts, She worked in France as owner of a business importing British luxury goods for the retail sector and speaks fluent French. She is also learning Japanese and is a former British Army national cadet champion.

Sam Paley, who has a degree in classical civilisations and whose father and sister are freight forwarders, previously worked in retail.

He will be responsible for a wide range of administrative support to the trade procedures team which supports businesses involved in trade worldwide.

Chamber International director, Tim Bailey, said: “We provide extensive support for business which are new to exporting and we’re seeing an increase in demand from this sector. These new appointments will make a big difference to our service delivery.”

Chamber International helps hundreds of new and experienced exporters with a wide range of specialist services to make exporting easier and more cost effective each year and is exclusively partnered with London headquartered global testing organisation, Intertek, to assist with a wide range of issues including product conformity.

Meanwhile, West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has elected a new chair of its transport group.

Sara Gilmore, a legal director at Addleshaw Goddard, has ten years’ experience in specialising in transport matters, and succeeds Nigel Foster, of Fore Consulting.

Ms Gilmore will be assisted by the group’s new vice-chair, Adrian Kemp, of WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff. Both were elected at a recent Chamber meeting.

In 2017, the group will focus on issues including lobbying for investment in infrastructure, including HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, trans-Pennine electrification and road upgrades but it will also be monitoring projects that have begun.

Ms Gilmore said: “The Chamber transport forum is fundamental in collating the requirements of the business community and assimilating these with public sector aims and constraints.

“I want to use my role to help push the Chamber’s transport agenda. I can draw on a wealth of wider experience from others within my firm, although I already have a broad base of influence, acting for stakeholders like Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Keolis UK, but also in the wider business community.”

She qualified at Addleshaw Goddard in 2006. She specialises in transport sector deals but has considerable experience of PPP and PFI projects. She acts as project manager on major transactions, co-ordinating numerous work streams and chairing key multi-disciplinary meetings.

Adrian Kemp is a director at WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff, responsible for strategic growth. He has 25 years of experience in the public and private sector; his current role enables him to interpret current market conditions for the benefit of the Chamber’s members.