The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new director to drive forward its West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency.

Former head of representation policy and research for the Chamber, Mary Walker, 45, pictured, will be responsible for an area covering 30,000 firms in her new role.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chamber, the Agency is providing start-up advice, training and business support in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield on behalf of the new West Yorkshire Business Link.

The organisation is also running the Phoenix Fund, a new Government scheme to encour-age enterprise in socially disadvantaged areas.