Emma, who studied BSc (Hons) Childhood & Youth Studies and Sociology, is employed in the Business Development and Marketing team at Liverpool-based Krol Corlett Construction.
The Livercool Awards celebrate individuals who are making a significant difference to the Liverpool City Region, highlighting the very best in business and innovation.
The Employee of the Year award celebrates professionals who demonstrate exceptional commitment, leadership and impact within their organisations and communities.
Emma’s recognition highlights her role in driving strategic growth and social value through her work in business development and marketing at Krol Corlett Construction.
Following graduation, Emma transitioned into business development and marketing, which has opened the door to impactful career opportunities, giving, she feels “real purpose.”
Emma said: “Since graduating from Edge Hill, my career journey hasn’t been linear, and I think that’s what makes it powerful.
“Moving into construction wasn’t something I had mapped out during university, but it has become a space where I’ve found real purpose.
“In my current role, I support strategic growth across multiple regions, working closely with pre-construction teams, senior leadership and clients. A key part of my focus is social value, ensuring that projects create meaningful, measurable impact within the communities we build in.
“Very quickly, I recognised how relevant my degree in Childhood & Youth Studies and Sociology was. Understanding policy, inequality, social mobility and community dynamics has given me a different lens within a commercial environment. It allows me to approach development not just from a business growth perspective, but from a people and impact perspective too.”
The appointment in February 2026 marked a milestone for the charity and wider Liverpool community, with fundraising efforts enabling Liverpool Zoe’s Place to continue to provide specialist care for babies and young children with medical needs and make the new purpose-built hospice a reality.
Completion on Liverpool Zoe’s Place has been scheduled for early 2027, the facility will provide a modern, welcoming and highly supportive environment, which will secure the long-term future of essential children’s palliative care services and ensuring families across the region continue to receive the specialist support they need. Emma is excited to be a part of the team working on this project.
As a woman working in construction, Emma believes that there are different routes into the industry, and it has become more diverse.
Women in Construction Week took place at the beginning of March, celebrating the theme of ‘Level Up. Build Strong’ and Emma is proud to work in it, as she aims to champion inclusivity in a sector where female representation is lower than male.
Emma said: “As a woman working in a heavily male-dominated industry, I feel strongly about championing representation.
“Construction is far more diverse than people may assume
,and there are so many pathways into the sector, not just traditional ones.”
Emma enjoyed her time at Edge Hill University, where she was able to grow in a “welcoming environment.”
Emma said: “I loved that it wasn’t one-dimensional, we explored sociological theory, but also the political processes behind how policies and values are created and implemented,” Emma explained.
“Childhood & Youth Studies combined with Sociology felt like the perfect balance between understanding individual development and the wider social and political systems that impact it.
“Edge Hill stood out to me because of the course structure and the campus environment, it felt welcoming, forward-thinking and somewhere I could grow both academically and personally. It has everything you could possibly need is in one place: academic facilities, social spaces and green areas. It creates a real sense of community.
“Your degree does not define your destination; it shapes your perspective.”
March 20, 2026
