A property firm is celebrating after seeing its first female graduate qualify as a chartered surveyor. Bosses at Croydon-based Leasehold Valuers were delighted when Joanna Stephenson became a qualified surveyor and a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS). Joanna becomes a part of a profession that is made up of just 13 per cent of women in the UK. She said: “There is clearly a real shortage of women entering the surveying profession, particularly in leasehold reform, so I'm very proud to be able to say that I am now a chartered member of RICS. “The qualification process was very challenging and has required a lot of self-motivation, so I am absolutely delighted to have passed first-time. “ I am excited about moving forward in my career and helping to grow and develop the Leasehold Valuers brand. I am also very appreciative to my colleagues for their support and patience whilst I was studying!" A graduate of Edinburgh Napier University, Joanna studied Property Development and Valuation before taking up a role as a Graduate Surveyor at a large property company in Dubai. She moved to London in May 2015 to take up her present role at Leasehold Valuers.
