Small duo look to diversify and rebrand for future growth

Two smaller cost consultancies have revealed plans to expand. QS company Adeo, headquartered in Redhill, Surrey, has launched a separate M&E firm, Adeo M&E Consulting. The fledgling firm is aiming to reach £1m in turnover this year.

Stewart Foster has been hired as managing director of the new venture. He was formerly an independent consultant.

Foster has recruited six self-employed QSs and plans to hire two or three more in 2005. Employees transferred from the parent company take the firm’s overall team to 14 people.

Adeo M&E Consulting is already working on two UK airports and several office schemes.

Foster has experience in sectors including pharmaceuticals, health, offices, military, airports, residential and industrial.

We wanted something a bit less corporate and more fresh

Chris Thompson, director, Sum

Further north, PCS Consulting, a Leeds-based QS and PM, is re-branding as well as adding new staff. The firm’s new name is Sum. “We wanted something a bit less corporate and more fresh,” said director Chris Thompson.

Sum has hired three people in the past month, taking its team of professionals to eight. Walter Towatt, a former independent consultant, joins as a director in the final accounts and claim department. Tony Walsh joins as a project manager from Quarmby Construction, Leeds and Tony MacKay joins as a graduate QS.

Sum’s workload has increased eightfold in the past 12 months. It is now working on approaching £40m of live work.

Thompson said he would double the staff to 16 next year. Sum, founded as PCS in 2001, is divided into four departments: billing, PQSing, project management and final accounts/claims.