Sheffield Chamber of Commerce has made two appointments to strengthen its existing team.

Julie Hardwick has been appointed as business account manager and Alison Tilley has taken on the role of events coordinator.

Julie, who lives in Rotherham, will work closely with Chamber members, ensuring they get value from their membership and that their needs are met, providing information about events, training courses and networking opportunities.

She will work with a wide variety of member businesses from new start-ups to international organisations, covering sectors from manufacturing and law firms to creative and digital.

Julie, who has 20 years experience in the financial sector as a commercial manager, joins Sheffield Chamber after spending two years at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber as a business development executive.

Julie said: "I'm looking forward to working with a variety of Chamber members in the Sheffield City Region. The business community is facing many challenges in the current economic climate and it is about maximising all opportunities that are available, making sure they add value to their products and services, ultimately helping my members businesses grow. By working closely with them, I hope to help them achieve this."

Alison, who is providing maternity cover, will support the coordination of the Chamber's busy yearly events programme, which includes member networking events, forum meetings, the Global Manufacturing Festival and the hugely popular Sheffield Business Awards.

She will be involved in all elements of event coordination, from sourcing a venue, managing delegate lists, sourcing speakers and providing support during the events themselves.

The 23 year old, who graduated from Sheffield Hallam University last summer with an Events Management degree, spent a year working at an events management company in Birmingham as part of her course.

Alison, who is originally from Wolverhampton but now lives in Nether Edge, Sheffield, said: "The Sheffield Chamber's vast and diverse events programme provides many opportunities for members and non members alike, so it's great to be a part of coordinating them. There are many elements to organising events, which means that not one day is ever the same."