A FIRM of chartered surveyors and agents has just appointed its first female director.

Holly Stafford has been appointed to the board of Vickers and Barrass, Chartered Surveyors, Land and Estate Agents, announces the appointment of Holly Stafford, with effect from February 1.

Holly joined the firm in 2019 as a chartered surveyor and office manager. She previously worked for Strutt & Parker in Northumberland and other land agents working across Lancashire, Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Graduating from Harper Adams in 2004 with a BSc (Hons) in Rural Estate and Land Management, she continued her professional studies by becoming a member of the RICS in 2006 and then qualified as a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers in 2007.

Adam Barrass, managing director, said: "I am extremely pleased that Holly has accepted the board's invitation to become a director of Vickers and Barrass. We believe that with her strong track record in agricultural professional services coupled with her sound rural knowledge, land and property expertise she is the right person to complement the existing board members and assist with business development."

Holly lives with her husband and their two children on the family, beef, sheep and arable farm in Northumberland.

"I am delighted to join the board as the first female director. It's such an exciting time to take up this position. Our growth plans are central to my role in helping the business move even further forward."