Graduates join the professional team at Halls

A leading firm of regional estate agents, chartered surveyors, auctioneers and valuers has strengthened its professional department by recruiting two graduates.

Louise Roberts, 22, and Stephen Evans, 24, jointhe professional team at Halls’ Welsh Bridge headquarters in Shrewsbury where they will be working under Shaun Jones and directors Peter Willcock and David Giles.

Their roles will include Environmental Stewardship, Single Payment Scheme and other Rural Payments Agency related work, planning and general agricultural agency duties.

Louise, a farmer’s daughter from Westbury, near Shrewsbury, has recently graduated from Harper Adams University, Newport with a BSc honours degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management.

During her studies, she became the first Harper Adams University student in 2007 to be awarded the Bruce Wilson-North Scholarship from the Country Land and Business Association and also won awards from Bidwells, Brown & Co and Savills.

Stephen, a dairy farmer’s son from Duddleston, near Ellesmere, has joined the professional team after assisting with residential sales and agricultural work at Halls’ Whitchurch office.

A geography graduate at Aberystwyth University, he is currently working towards a post graduate diploma in rural environment and land management at Harper Adams University College, Newport.

Both Louise and Stephen spent work placements with Halls during their university studies and are seeking the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Assessment of Professional Competency qualification. In addition, they are working towards becoming full members of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

’I am delighted to have secured a post with Halls, which is a widely respected, local company that my family has always used,’ said Louise, a member of Alberbury Young Farmers’ Club. ’Having grown up on a farm, I was always interested in agriculture and wanted to do something related to it.’

Stephen, who is treasurer of Whittington and Oswestry Young Farmers’ Club, said: ’I am excited by the opportunity to join and help build up the company’s excellent professional team and am looking forward to working closely with the farming community.’

Halls’ chairman Peter Willcock said the company was delighted to secure the services of both talented graduates to help expand and develop the busy professional department.