Mortgage & Lending Solutions
Meet the Team
We get to know our customers pretty well during their time with us. So we think it’s important you know who will be looking after your requirements.
Leicsa Plowman, Director
Leicsa has thirty years’ experience in Financial Services. She has worked in a number of roles for AXA Assurance in all areas of financial planning, including mortgage desk consultant, sales consultant, training officer, sales and marketing manager.
She started Mortgage & Lending Solutions Ltd in 2003 in order to specialise in the provision of mortgage and loan advice.
Leicsa believes in a highly personalised service for customers and her team are key to delivering consistently excellent results.
Outside of work Leicsa loves good food, wine and spending time with family and is never happier when all three are combined!
Robert Grice, Associate Director
Robert is a passionate property professional with over 20 years’ experience in financial services.
He started working with M&LS during it's inception in 2003 before going off to gain more experience in the mortgage world. He returned in 2006 and has since worked his way up to Associate Director.
Robert prides himself on his reputation, extensive knowledge, excellent customer service and personable, clear, tailored advice.
Out of work Robert is an FA Qualified Football Coach with a strong focus on youth football, he’s also a keen runner having completed a marathon and numerous half marathons over the years.
Nigel Broad, Mortgage & Protection Advisor
Nigel joined us back in June 2014 following a number of years working as a mortgage advisor for a large corporate estate agent. Having joined Mortgage and Lending Solutions he went on to spend a further 5 years working alongside one of Hove’s premier boutique estate agents; Mishon Welton providing advice and assistance with all elements of both residential and BTL lending. In more recent years he now enjoys the freedom of working from his home office on the south coast allowing for greater time to focus on his existing client bank and expanding new client opportunities.
With close to two decades experience within the mortgage and lending environment Nigel has a large and varied client bank which he has built up through his principles of providing his customers with the highest levels of advice and customer service. Particular areas of interest include self employed income, both sole trader and Ltd Co business arrangements alongside wider complex income streams.
On a personal note, he spent over 30 years as a keen rugby player playing for his home team Worthing rugby club most weekends and maintains a strong association to the club even now playing the occasional game, so you may have to excuse the occasional bump or bruise when you see him! More recently though he has started a more sedate sporting retirement plan shifting time from the rugby pitch onto the golf course… oh, and there is also Snowboarding and CrossFit… so perhaps not that sedate after all.
Jo Whittaker, Mortgage Adviser
Jo joined M&LS in August 2016, having taken early retirement from a high street bank. She has over 30 years’ experience in banking and qualified as a Mortgage Adviser in 2003. Jo loves helping her customers achieve their dream of owning their own home or meet their dream of becoming mortgage free.
Jo has participated in many charity events; London to Brighton bike ride, Ben Nevis challenge, Race for Life, London Marathon walk for Breast cancer, Paddle Round The Pier, Memory Walk in Brighton and Peter Kay’s Danceathon. When not working, Jo loves travelling to sunnier climes and you will regularly find her at a rock concert.
Laura Turner, Mortgage & Protection Adviser
Laura first joined M&LS in 2021 as an administrator and returned as a fully qualified adviser in 2023 after working for a new build company where she picked up a breadth of mortgage knowledge specialising in shared ownership. Laura works closely with Leicsa and the admin team in Ditchling.
In her personal time she loves being sporty with her girls and is often away at the weekends cheering on their sporting triumphs.
Carole Olley, Life Protection Adviser
With over 28 years of experience within the life sector, Carole Previously worked for a large financial services company where she held various roles from life underwriter to Customer Services Support Manager.
Carole enjoys building new relationships with clients, helping them to navigate and to understand the world of protection, uncovering their own risk exposures and helping them to find suitable plans that fit their lifestyles and will give them and their family peace of mind.
In her spare time Carole enjoys spending time with family and friends, and weekend breaks away.
Compliance and Mortgage Administration Manager
Helen has worked here since 2014 making sure the office runs smoothly. She started working in the financial sector following university and has previously worked underwriting mortgages for a high street building society followed by equity release processing.
Helen is the organiser of the office always planning the next event whether it be the Christmas party or summer bbq.
Michael Fennell, Paraplanner
Michael started at M&LS in 2016 as a mortgage paraplanner to Leicsa Plowman, he is also a crucial part of the company structure with great leadership and interpersonal skills, he is currently gaining vital knowledge and experience by working alongside his colleagues and hopes to be a mortgage advisor soon.
Michael would say the best part of his job is helping first time buyers in guiding them to achieve their goal of securing a mortgage for the first time whilst also guiding them through the whole process as smoothly as possible.
Michael has a keen interest in mountain biking (none of that road nonsense!) and golf on a sunny day. He also has a love of the great outdoors and you can find him out in the countryside with his family whenever possible.
Nicola Smart, Mortgage Administrator
Nicola joined M&LS in October 2018 to provide part-time administration support in the Ditchling office. She had previously worked for a large financial service company for 27 years in various roles, from Team Manager to Business Analyst.
She enjoys providing individual customer service and tailoring to each of their needs.
In her spare time she enjoys watching and supporting her sons football, and also loves to travel to sunnier climates.
Alison Cox, Paraplanner
Ali started at M&LS in 2019 as a Paraplanner. Ali’s career path has encompassed both the financial and the arts sector. Whilst bringing up her children she spent several years working at Glyndebourne Opera House which she thoroughly enjoyed and still attends operas when she is able.
Ali now works with Robbie in the Brighton office and has built up close working relationships with clients and associates. Even though she has been in the mortgage industry for more than 8 years, she claims every day is different and learns something new most days!
She enjoys travelling, socialising with family & friends and keeping fit.