A Cumbrian woman has been recognised for her work with a prestigious award.
Emma Sherlock, 39, chief operating officer of Carlisle-based Stan Sherlock Associates, was highly commended in the marketing influencer of the year category at the Women in Finance Awards.
Originally a radio broadcaster, Emma joined the firm, despite originally choosing media over business. Her work to develop the business’ marketing and social media strategy led to her husband and business partner Bobby Sherlock, nominating her for the awards.
The category celebrates women in the UK financial services sector whose contribution via marketing and media, including social media, has helped influence and raise awareness of financial issues.
After presenting a show on local radio for seven years, Emma joined Stan Sherlock Associates.
She continued: “As time went on the family business came under pressure because my father-in-law had a career ending stroke and my husband then took over the business.
“It sort of became obvious that there was a need for another pair of hands in the family business and possibly a creative pair of hands, because we wanted to move forwards and we had ideas of progression and change and we decided as a family it would be good for me to move from the BBC into the business.”
She then went on to retrain part-time as a protection advisor.
She said: “This way I could learn more about the business and the advice we give, but the advice I was doing was only a snippet of the overall financial advice we give but I’m not the strongest with numbers, so I didn’t want to go into financial or mortgage advice, I didn’t think that would be fair on the clients!”
Emma then became chief operating officer two years ago and her first big project was an entire marketing overhaul.
She said: “Once I was on board full time we looked at our marketing strategy, we didn’t have a website, we didn’t have any social media presence, we didn’t have any kind of advertising strategy anything like that and obviously with me coming from a creative background that was my first real project getting us online and generating new business, so that was my initial big main project and the role has just grown since.”
Talking on her win, Emma said: “It’s a big shock really, I was up against some really dynamic influential women, so I didn’t really expect to become a finalist, let alone come second and be commended.
“I was just in shock and really happy about it, I keep wondering if they read the wrong application form, I didn’t expect to get this far.
She added: “I just thought it was a nice gesture for my business partner who’s also my husband to put me forward for it and that was enough really, that the people in the business think highly of me.”
