Securing the future of construction

Year in industry

Emma spent a year in industry with Costain working on Kings Cross St Pancras station before embarking on her degree. “I thought, I want to shape the world,” she says. While she was studying civil engineering at the University of Nottingham she attended a sustainable development conference in Dubai using her ELS funds. “It was a great opportunity to network and hear some of the latest thinking,” she says. She then spent a month learning Mandarin visiting construction projects in China, including the Three Gorges Dam.

Building a career

Emma impressed a managing partner of Buro Happold at an ELS programme dinner, which led to a placement at the firm. She joined its graduate scheme and stayed with the company for eight years. “I worked on the 2012 Olympics, Battersea Power Station and some wonderful projects in Australia. That was where I got interested in creative reuse of old buildings,” she says. Emma then joined Cundall ,where she worked on listed buildings in Covent Garden.

Emma then spent more than five years as construction director for the Metropolitan Police, where she put her skills to the test refurbishing London’s police stations. She also led the development of their decarbonisation strategy and procurement of their construction supplier framework.

Since 2023, Emma has been managing director of Initivo, a specialist subcontractor in the VINCI Construction Group. Initivo is focused on securing longevity for structures, assets and building products through expert testing, engineering and consultancy services. “I manage a specialist testing and laboratory facility, and a nationwide team of engineers and technicians,” she says. “My role allows me to combine my engineering knowledge with my leadership abilities."

The ELS gave me a confidence in the soft skills and presenting at a senior level. I think that helped me accelerate my career.