Kate Moxey MRICS, 24, is a residential valuation surveyor with Allsop and her office is based opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge, London, UK. When Kate passed her APC she became the youngest female chartered surveyor in the world…

How does it feel to be one of the youngest female surveyor in the world?
I am genuinely amazed…I would have never expected it! To be honest, I don’t think I have done anything in particular that anyone else can't do. I guess from quite a young age I have just set clear goals for myself and then managed to achieve them.

So what first got you interested in surveying?
I have always had an interest in property. How people interact with property and their environment is so important and that is where surveyors step in. As a career there are so many different avenues to explore so my interest in property remains really high. For example, in property you can be involved in every aspect from design, construction, valuing just to name a few and you can always say "I had a hand in that."

So what qualifications have you got?
Well it started with A-Levels at school in Geography, German, English & Psychology. Then I did a joint honours Geography and Education Studies degree at Cambridge University.

As soon as I started at Allsop, I began a Masters in Property Valuation and Law at City University, which I undertook part time for two years whilst training on their graduate programme. I did my APC alongside this and passed this first time in December when I was 23.

Can you tell us a bit more about the APC?
Sure. Studying for the APC, like studying for any exam, was a stressful time! But if you understand the APC requirements at the outset, you approach it in an organised manner and you are prepared to put in the time… that really is half the battle. The APC takes two years and culminates in an interview, which allows you to demonstrate you have the key skills that are required of a chartered surveyor.

The great thing for me is that the APC allows you to learn through your everyday work. Allsop has a structured APC training programme that they developed in conjunction with RICS. This is a big help for graduates who are new, not only to surveying, but to the working world too.

How do you feel being a young female working in property?
I love it! The surveying industry is slowly but surely changing in the right direction. In fact, a large percentage of the graduates at Allsop are female.  Where I work everyone is taken on individual merits. I hope the pattern that Allsop and more widely, the RICS have adopted will continue.

What do you enjoy most about your career in surveying?
The varied working day. I enjoy spending time out and about inspecting a wide range of property as well as liasing with clients in the office. In the morning I might visit a property and inspect, photograph and measure it. Then in the afternoon I might respond to my emails and write a valuation report on my PC. I love the mix of friendly people I work with as surveyors get to meet with everyone from all walks of life.

What interesting projects have you been involved in?
The residential valuation team at Allsop are the largest portfolio valuers in the UK. A portfolio is where a client has a large number of properties and we put a price on it all. The biggest one I've been involved with had a reported value in excess of £400 million.

Well the work sounds interesting, what about the money?!
You can't ask me that! Seriously, I get a good salary plus commission. I also get ‘nice’ things like a mobile phone, a car allowance, pension and healthcare.

Plus the opportunity to pop across the road to Harrods in your lunch hour.
That's true… I like to shop.

So what other hobbies have you got apart from a spot of retail therapy?
Nothing out of the ordinary really. I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend, seeing friends  and going to the gym. I live in Kensington so the walk to work takes about half an hour and that keeps me fit too!

And finally Kate, what are your future career ambitions?
I want to continue to develop my career in the residential side of property whilst successfully managing a healthy work life balance at the same time. At the moment, I am young so I'm just willing to face whatever challenges are thrown my way!