Esther Bennett:
07940 965522
Esther’s property journey began in Suffolk during the 1990s, where she worked for a small independent estate agency. It was also during this time that she purchased her first property, a small refurbishment project which sparked her passion for property investment and development.
In 2002, Esther transitioned into Commercial Finance, joining one of the UK’s leading Commercial Agencies. She played a key role in establishing and integrating a dedicated finance function within the firm’s flagship office. Over the following decade, she developed extensive expertise in structuring commercial finance solutions for business owners, specialising in the healthcare, licensed and leisure sectors. Alongside her finance career, Esther successfully completed numerous refurbishment and property flip projects in Suffolk before relocating to Norfolk, where she took on increasingly ambitious developments. to include a substantial extension under Permitted Development Rights (PDR), a heavy refurbishment project, and her most significant development to date, a commercial-to-residential conversion and new-build scheme comprising of 6 units.
Building on decades of practical experience across East Anglia, Esther is now expanding Development Money’s presence into Cheshire and across the North West, while continuing to support clients throughout the Midlands and East Anglia with her established team. Esther offers a unique combination of technical lending expertise and first-hand development experience, having personally been involved at every stage of the property development lifecycle. This practical insight enables her to structure funding solutions that are commercially sound, strategically aligned and tailored to the needs of developers, investors and business owners alike.
Mark Ellis ACIB:
07843 147539
Mark brings over 35 years of experience in Corporate and Commercial Banking, having held senior lending roles with several of the UK’s leading High Street banks. Throughout his career, he has developed extensive expertise in real estate finance, commercial lending, relationship management and structuring funding solutions for businesses and property professionals.
Prior to joining Development Money, Mark led a team of 130 Business Development Managers, overseeing a multi-billion-pound loan portfolio while supporting clients with complex funding requirements across the commercial and property sectors. His extensive banking and lending experience enables him to confidently structure and manage even the most complex transactions, delivering tailored funding solutions that meet his clients’ commercial objectives.
Alongside his banking career, Mark has undertaken his own property project, successfully converting a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) back into his single-family home. This hands-on experience provides him with a practical understanding of the challenges faced by property owners, developers and investors, complementing his extensive lending expertise.
At Development Money, Mark works closely with developers, investors, landlords and business owners, guiding clients through every stage of the funding process. Whether arranging Commercial Mortgages, Bridging Finance or Development Finance, the combination of his senior banking experience and practical property knowledge enables him to provide clear, strategic advice and successfully deliver funding solutions for even the most challenging transactions.
Grahame Wells:
CEMAP, FPC 1,2,3
Grahame brings a wealth of experience across property, finance and client advisory services.
His passion for property began at the University of Greenwich, where he trained as an architect, giving him a strong understanding of property design, construction and development. He later transitioned into financial services, establishing his own finance business and spending the past decade advising clients on residential and commercial mortgages.
Alongside his finance career, Grahame has built his own portfolio of commercial investment properties, which he continues to own and actively manage. This combination of practical property investment experience and financial expertise enables him to understand the needs of both investors and business owners.
At Development Money, Grahame heads up the Commercial Finance and Buy-to-Let division, helping clients secure funding for investment properties, commercial acquisitions and business finance. He also works closely with developers and investors to structure bridging and development finance facilities, providing tailored funding solutions for projects of all sizes.