Meet Gilly, Partnership Team Leader at CTT Group

For many people, going to work means settling into a routine, opening the laptop and getting through the day’s to-do list.

For Gilly, it means people.

Whether she is talking an adviser through their first steps with CTT, helping someone feel more confident with the software, supporting a training course or simply pointing someone in the right direction, Gilly’s role is built around connection.

Recently promoted to Partnership Team Leader, Gilly is one of the friendly faces helping advisers feel supported, welcomed and understood from the moment they begin their journey with CTT. Warm, enthusiastic and highly approachable, she plays a key role in making sure partners know they have someone they can turn to, whatever stage they are at.

“For me, we’re a bit of a hub,” Gilly explains. “We’re often the link between consultants and the rest of the building. If someone has a question or needs pointing in the right direction, they’ll often come to us first.”

For many advisers, joining a new network, booking onto training or getting started with new software can feel like a big step. For Gilly, making that step feel easier is exactly what the Partnership Team is there to do.

From travel to partnerships

Before joining CTT, Gilly worked in travel, a career that gave her more than a few stories to tell! From helping people plan holidays and travelling the world to handling unexpected situations overseas, including the occasional moment that needed a calm head and quick thinking, her background helped shape the confident, adaptable approach she brings to CTT today.

“I used to work in travel, so I’ve always been used to talking to people,” Gilly says. “I don’t have an issue standing up in front of a group and speaking. If I understand what I’m talking about, I can explain it naturally.”

That ability to communicate and simplify complex concepts or products has become one of Gilly’s biggest strengths in her role. Whether she is delivering a software demo, supporting a course or helping an adviser work out their next step, her focus is always on keeping things practical, human and easy to follow.

“I like being able to talk things through in a way people understand,” she says. “If I know the product and I understand it, I can just talk about it.”

A hands-on approach to support

In her role, Gilly leads a busy Partnership Team, supporting advisers with everything from demos and consultations to onboarding, post-course queries and event management.

A typical day starts with the team looking at the calendar, checking what consultations, demos and meetings are booked in, and making sure the right support is in place. From there, the day can quickly change direction.

“I like that I’m not tied to my desk all day,” Gilly says. “I could be on the phone, on reception, doing demos, speaking to advisers or attending events. Every day is different.”

That variety suits her perfectly. While some queries can be answered quickly by email or Teams, Gilly is a firm believer that a conversation is often the best way to get things sorted.

“I much prefer speaking to people,” she explains. “You get the tone right, you can explain things better, and people feel more comfortable.”

It is not unusual for Gilly to step away from her desk and speak to someone face-to-face rather than send a message across the office. For her, that is not just a preference; it is part of how she gets things done.

If getting an answer means finding the right person in Gables House, Gilly is more than happy to do it. Her approach is proactive, practical and personal: find the right person, ask the right question and make sure advisers get the support they need.

The team behind the adviser journey

Although Gilly is quick to recognise the work of the wider team, the Partnership Team plays a vital role in the adviser journey. They are often involved at key points, from helping new advisers after training to supporting software demos, arranging consultations, coordinating events, preparing marketing material, and making sure questions reach the right team.

“There’s a lot that goes into what we do,” Gilly explains. “We support events, we help with demos, we speak to advisers, and we help make sure people get to the right place. A lot of it happens behind the scenes, but it all matters.”

The team is also a key link between advisers and the wider CTT Group. If someone has completed a course and needs help getting set up, if they are unsure who to contact, or if they need reassurance before submitting their first case, the Partnership Team is there to guide them.

That support helps create a smoother, more reassuring experience for advisers. It also reflects the wider culture at CTT, where teams work together to make sure people feel supported rather than passed from person to person.

“At CTT, people really do care,” Gilly says. “Everyone is willing to help, and you can go and ask questions. That makes such a difference.”

A culture built on people

For Gilly, one of the best parts of working at CTT is the people around her. She describes the culture as supportive, approachable and genuinely caring, with colleagues who are willing to make time for each other.

That culture is something she brings into her own role as a Team Leader. She believes in clear communication, honest conversations and making sure people feel comfortable asking for help.

For advisers, that means knowing there is someone approachable on the other end of the phone or email. Someone who will listen properly, help make sense of the next steps and connect them with the right people when needed.

For the Partnership Team, it means having a leader who understands the importance of communication, encouragement and getting stuck in!

Resilient, enthusiastic and warm

When asked to describe Gilly in three words, the Partnership Team chose resilient, enthusiastic and warm.

It is easy to see why. Those qualities come through clearly in the way she works, from the energy she brings to the team to the reassurance she gives advisers who are finding their feet with CTT.

“I’m very much an ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ person,” she says. “I try to find the good point in things and bring people round.”

Outside of work, Gilly’s love of travel has never left her. Rome and Mauritius are among her favourite places she has visited, with Rome standing out for its history, architecture and atmosphere.

“Rome is like an open-air museum,” she says. “There’s so much history, and you can just walk around and take it all in.”

For Gilly, travel has been more than a way to see new places. It has shaped the way she understands people, handles situations and adapts to whatever is in front of her, and we couldn’t be more proud of the energy and experience she brings to the Partnership Team!

Here to help

For advisers, partners or anyone considering working with CTT, Gilly and the Partnership Team are exactly the kind of person you want at the other end of the conversation: approachable, practical, honest and ready to help.

Whether someone is joining a course, booking a demo, getting started with the software or simply trying to work out who to speak to, Gilly and the Partnership Team are there to make the process easier.

Her approach is simple: listen properly, explain clearly and make sure people feel supported.

Or, in Gilly’s own words: “Do your best and don’t overthink. Keep daring to dream.”