New president of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce unveiled
STEPHEN Williams, property and relocation solicitor for Lupton Fawcett Lee & Priestley, is set to become the next president of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Williams will be inaugurated at the Chamber’s 155th annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday.
He will take over from Jon Stewart, a director at Siemens Metals Technologies, who has been president for the last 12 months.
Sheffield Chamber will report a slight rise in income to £1.89m at the AGM, including an increase in membership subscriptions. Despite seeing an increase in its year-end deficit to almost £250,000, the Chamber says it’s on-target to generate a surplus by 2014.
Richard Wright, executive director of Sheffield Chamber, said: “The annual results are in line with what we expected. We know we have turned the corner and fully expect the group to show positive numbers this financial year.
“Our focus is on recovering the balance sheet and that will take a little more time. The Chamber remains committed to offering an excellent service to members, especially against the need to deliver growth in the economy.
“The Chamber is prepared to play its part in providing the leadership necessary to align our resources to deliver the growth that is fundamentally necessary for so many of us.
“It is easy in periods of cuts and change to become a little defensive. However, leadership is about identifying what is possible, focusing on delivering the few critical things that will stimulate the transformation and about being ambitious. This is a great city but we need to expect more from it!”
At the Chamber AGM, David Thurkettle, director at PwC, will become senior vice-president, with Jillian Thomas managing director of Future Life Wealth Management joining the Chamber board as director and junior-vice president. Jillian Thomas will become the second ever female president of the Chamber in 2015.
Simon Bladen, audit manager at chartered accountants Hawsons, is also set to be appointed as a Chamber director and honorary treasurer following the retirement of Mike Shepherd.
Outgoing Chamber President, Jon Stewart, added: “Over the past 12 months it has been heartening to be a part of a Chamber which is working more closely with other influential bodies including the LEP, Sheffield City Council, The Cutlers’ Company and other regional Chambers.
“We fully recognise that we are a member organisation and exist to support the business community. Our principle objective is one of indirect wealth creation in the city and we are particularly pleased to see the number of start-ups that we have been able to work with, as well as existing businesses to enter into new overseas markets.
“Sheffield Chamber continues to adapt to the changing business environment and subsequent needs of its members and I am pleased to see efforts of recent years to overcome operational challenges now delivering better results as we move into the current year.”
