Fiona Weaver has been appointed as graduate surveyor with leading South Wales chartered surveying consultancy Hutchings & Thomas.

Keen horsewoman Fiona, aged 23, of Penhow, near Newport, has been quick out of the stalls at the Newport-based practice.

The former Caerleon Comprehensive School student and graduate of Cirencester’s Royal Agricultural University, was champing at the bit to get started in her career as a chartered surveyor.

Fiona said: “I completed work experience at an estate agency in Newport while studying at Cirencester and was delighted to land the graduate position here with Hutchings & Thomas. I am very keen on everything to do with land and property so this post is ideal.”

Fiona, who was allowed to keep a horse while at agricultural college, owns a nine-year-old former racehorse, once owned by a sheik which she acquired locally, which she now shows at events across the country.

Haydn Thomas, a director of Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors, said: “Fiona proved a knowledgeable and valuable asset to our growing business from the off. Fiona got stuck in to the varied work here straight away and is already showing good form.”

Haydn said the graduate surveyor will be exposed to general practice surveying including, agency, landlord & tenant, valuations and property management.