In the last instalment of our ‘Women in Business’ month we wanted to take a moment to put the spotlight on us and celebrate the fabulous ladies who design, deliver, manage and create all the magic that makes Expert Pensions what it is today (Disclaimer : there are also fabulous men working at Expert Pensions but we are having a girl power moment)!
We are passionate about learning, education, and development. We want to encourage more women to consider a career in financial services, to highlight the opportunities that are available and to show that it is a good and achievable option.
So, who are we….?
Gayle Conway
I am the Managing Director of Expert Pensions Limited and I am here to ensure your experience of us is a professional, productive, and enjoyable one. I have over 15 years working within financial services and what is interesting is that I also sort of ‘fell’ into it without really considering finance as a career option. This is interesting as it seems to be a common thread with many of the women we have spoken to and know from the industry….
I started in the Clydesdale Bank straight from High School and never looked back. Very quickly I wanted to learn and develop, I began the first of many banking and financial planning exams at age 17. I never realised how many opportunities would be open to me and I found myself moving from customer services to Mortgage adviser to assistant Bank Manager to Financial Planner, each role bringing new and interesting challenges with the added bonus of qualifications and support to complete my exams. It was the next step where I found my true passion…training and development! I joined the training team and gained my CITP accreditation in my role as a Senior Training and Development Consultant. This is the point where my first daughter was born…
I took a break from financial services and embarked on a new challenge, running my own online business, this allowed me to devote time to raising my young family whilst still learning and doing something to motivate and develop myself. This venture gave me new found skills in website development, business management and set the path for where I am today and my good fortune to be part of Expert Pensions. I believe that good people, doing good things create a great environment – that is what we do here, and I am very proud to be part of such an amazing team.
Introducing the amazing team…
Caroline Evans
Caroline is the Customer Engagement and Communications Assistant and brings many years of experience from various industry sectors but predominately in Learning & Development. She is CIPD Learning and Development qualified and has an SVQ level 3 in Management but has also been a Butlins Redcoat (entertainer), Modern Apprenticeship coordinator (trainer, mentor and learning coordinator) and Employer Engagement Officer (networking and building relationships). Caroline is here to help with all your initial enquiries, keeping you updated via Linkedin, our weekly newsletters and our blog page to ensure that you receive outstanding customer care from the moment you contact Expert Pensions.
Linda Reynolds
Linda is a Company Director with EP and one part of the original husband (John) and wife team who started up the business way back when the first seeds were sown in 2009/2010 with Examjar. She always says “she did everything John couldn’t or didn’t want to do” and as they say the rest is EPL history! Linda continues to deal with all things accounts at EP (any questions about those invoices just give her a bell). Having worked in finance and banking for 30 years she always has time for a chat.
Nowadays, Linda (and John) are less involved on a day-to-day basis after handing the baton onto our new Managing Director Gayle. Linda will continue to share her experience and support Gayle, but a new phase is on the horizon. Before EP took over, Linda enjoyed working in the voluntary sector – Bield housing and Alzheimer Scotland – eventually running local Alzheimer Scotland Day Club before EP commitments took over. As the business continues to go from strength to strength under the direction of Gayle, Linda is looking forward to spending more time on supporting the many causes which are close to her heart.
Tessa Roberts
Tessa Roberts is our leading expert and is ridiculously knowledgeable in all study areas that we support from our Level 4 Diploma right across to our Level 6 Advanced Diploma. She is the magic behind our resources and also hosts one of the most friendly and helpful technical online Forums you are ever likely to find! Learning isn’t a one-off event and Tessa will do her utmost to ensure that your online experience is fun, that you stay curious and that you will keep coming back for more.
She is a freelance technical author and online tutor specialising in financial services, financial capability and general insurance. Tessa’s strengths lie in her years of experience, technical knowledge and her friendly, approachable and very visible presence as part of our online forum community.
Maurita Black
Maurita has just recently joined us and we are looking forward to welcoming her on board. An accomplished and very well-regarded professional within the finance industry with over 28 years’ experience and an excellent track record. Her roles have included: Training Consultant, Building Society District Manager and Branch Manager. She has first-hand experience in mortgages, investments, financial legislation, sales and customer service.
For the last 16 years Maurita has loved helping thousands of students pass their LIBF and CII certificate and diploma level qualifications – she brings the subjects to life and tries to inject a bit of fun too!
The power of a good team
Teams have always been, and will always be, an essential ingredient for building a successful business and there is most definitely power in a group of people working together towards a shared goal!
The journey starts here and we can help shape your training and development requirements. Get in touch and let’s see where that initial conversation can take us:
