SUM cost consultants, project managers, quantity surveyors, Leeds

Further to Walters challenge to the Billing department some months ago now, Christina suggested a visit to LaserZone. Whilst some were initially sceptical, sentiment following the event was very positive and this turned out to be a most enjoyable event.The tradition of introducing new team members in a social environment continued, with Adam Daniels joining the Billing cause.

Let battle commence!! It was the 17th June, in a dark, smoke filled dungeon, where the Battle of Castleford took place. With 6 warriors per side, Everyone v- Billing was poised…until the whistle blew and Billing took a beating!

Everyone won by a margin of 6700 points in Game 1 and Billing had to surrender by as
many as 8900 points in Game 2. On further inspection of Tom’s complex matrix style spreadsheet with bells on, it was clear that Billing decided to NOT listen to the marshal when he advised shooting the bases for 2000 points, but instead shooting at people, worth a mere 200 points!!a stack em high sell em cheap strategy was obviously chosen!!!
The individual honours went to the Dark Knight (Tom) in Game 1, amassing a total of
5300 points, with Maverick (Richard) taking Game 2 with a colossal points tally of
9400. Akin to a game of top trumps, Tom’s post match statistical analyses proved (nothing!), although Everyone won overall, someone, not Everyone, triumphed at something somewhere!!whether it be accuracy, shots fired, or tackling the hottest chicken at Nandos…

SUM captain Andrew said Win SUM, Lose SUM have the belief to win next year following their 2-1 loss to the eventual winners in this years quarter-final. “We have caught the winning mood and can claim the title in the future,” said Tom, whose nonchalantly slotted goals helped the team qualify through the group stage without conceding a goal.
“It was unbelievable. It was crazy, incredible drama and emotional disappointment having conceded two late goals in the final minutes of our quarter final,” added John.

Group Stage - Results
1. 14:00 Davis Langdon LLP 0 v 2 SUM
2. 15:00 PSK Prout Tilbrook 0 v 3 SUM
3. 15:40 SUM 2 v 0 Drivers Jonas

Finals - Results
4. 16:40 SUM 1 v 2 Faithful & Gould

Team on the day: Andrew, John, Tom, Bret, Patrick (GK) and Gareth

The tournament started with a match against Davis Langdon which was deadlocked at the break. Entering the ring at half time, Tom,waltzed towards the box,craftily picked out by Bret from the left wing and passed the ball into the far side of the goal, leaving the neutrals in awe of this talented debutant. Gareth added a second having pickpocketed the oppositions midfield and stroking the leather home with confidence. Game two saw Tom and Gareth add to their respective tallies. Tom coolly finishing once again, with confidence clearly evident from his opening game. Howie netted twice, including a penalty kick with his first touch of the game, following a series of incidents which were punished by an otherwise quiet referee. Game three, saw Andrew and Bret add their names to the score sheet. In a very tight game, something special was needed to bring the game into life, Andrew duly obliged, firing the ball in off both posts with a rip-snorter from the half way line, which could only be described as Beckham esk in terms of technique, garnished with the power befitting a military war head! With hindsight, this years tournament was there for the taking. Media sentiment was,that having taken a 1-0 lead against F&G with only 4 mins to play in game 4, Win SUM, Lose SUM were in the driving seat and destiny was in their own hands / feet! Credit to the opposition though, they kept plugging away and when Win SUM, Lose SUM wasted half a dozen chances looking for a second goal, they were exposed twice by rebounds from the back board, which were poked home
by the oppositions loan striker, leaving the score at 2-1 with only seconds remaining. As you’d expect from an emotional tail like this, F&G went on to win the tournament (after penalties) and Win SUM, Lose SUM were left contemplating what might have been had they taken their numerous chances!!

The 2nd June saw Jonathan become the latest addition to the Billing Team. Jonathan will be studying for an MSc in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, due to start in September.

On the 19th May, SUM were appointed as Quantity Surveyor by the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC), to help deliver a New Communications Centre
at their head office in Rossett near Wrexham. The new building will provide a state of the art Communications Centre to boost the promotion and defence of shooting. The two-storey building will contain remote TV filming facilities including a soundproofed studio, a fully equipped design studio and video-conferencing facilities, as well as further office space. It will form an extension to BASC’s headquarters at Marford Mill.
BASC are keen to ensure that the building is characterised by smart design, cost effective material utilisation, no or very low toxicity and superior energy efficiency. In essence, they want to create a ‘green’ building. The organisation’s patron is the Duke of Edinburgh and the departments based at the head office include: firearms, game keeping and game shooting, media and commu-nications, deer, research, conservation and land management,biodiversity, marketing, fundraising, wildfowling,membership, shooting standards and training.

Further information regarding BASC and the activities they are involved in throughout the UK, can be found at www.BASC.org.uk 

A warm welcome to Joe who joins Walter and the rest of the Claims team in April.

To Andrew who completed his MSc in Construction Law & Arbitration, having submitted a dissertation in January.

To Karen who successfully completed Year 1 of the MSc in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management in February.

3 years, 6 months, 15 modules, 30 assignments, 8 exams, 1 dissertation: MSc - Done!

Result: Pass with a merit - Well done Richard

SUM are delighted to announce that a further three staff have taken up the MSc challenge.  Good luck Christina, Johnathan and Lauren!

Here at SUM we are always saying we like to be a little different and I think the installation of our new meeting room, is proof that we genuinely like to break from the norm.

We think our new meeting room is spacious, practical and creates a positive working atmosphere others think it is a garden shed! Either way it does the job and we look forward to seeing you there soon….

After months of hard work and preparation behind the scenes, Greenhouse has made a welcome start on site!  The enabling works contract commenced in earnest at the end of August with plenty of noise and dust courtesy of a very enthusiastic demolition contractor.  This start heralds the beginning of what will hopefully be a new era of ‘green’ construction in and around Leeds; a prospect that eco-friendly developers Citu and SUM are delighted to be part of.

Watch this space for further updates