Recruitment agency owner and businesswoman Sarah Anderson CBE has been appointed to the new government Commission for Employment and Skills (CES).

Anderson, who is currently on the board of Networkers International and runs her own specialist catering employment business, Hamilton Mayday Group, joins 19 other commissioners from the private, public and third sectors, and from trade unions.

The CES, a key recommendation of the Leitch Review in December 2006, officially begins work in April and will have a major say in advising ministers on the future of UK skills training and whether workplace training becomes mandatory for employers in 2010.

Anderson, who set up Hamilton Mayday in 1985 and sits on the Employment Policy Committee of the CBI, Jobcentre plus and the Council for Excellence on Management and Leadership, said the commission is there to provide practical advice to help employers, recruiters and jobseekers.

She told Recruiter: "The majority of the commission is made up of people with experience in industry and business. It therefore adds a dimension of reality to deal with practical issues. One of the debates has to be about skills versus qualifications. For example, Jobcentre Plus is doing a lot of work at the moment on getting people into work that is sustainable not just filling roles for one day for the sake of it. It is about meeting the needs of employers, work and jobseekers.

"There has to be a buy-in for employers and recruiters. If people believe in the process it will help with training programmes."

Anderson added that taking the skills agenda away from politicians and giving it to "real people" should bring improvements.

"Hopefully our input can provide informed strategic policy development for ministers and create a more joined up approach to skills implementation, which is patchwork at the moment," she said.

The appointments, approved by Gordon Brown and other senior cabinet ministers, are for up to three years.

Peter Hain, work and pensions secretary, said: "This is an impressive board bringing together a range of individuals with an outstanding track record of delivery in their fields. They will be driving change, helping to deliver economic competitiveness, social justice, and opportunity for all."