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What is SUMAC^®?

SUMAC^® is an online SaaS (Software as a Service), helping organisations match people together for transformational mentoring and coaching experiences.

Providing a professional and seamless way to set up and publish schemes, create and manage partnerships, maintain accurate records, and streamline administrative processes. SUMAC^® is a simple, effective, and affordable solution for managing mentoring and coaching programmes.

Cloud based, and therefore accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop browsers SUMAC^® allows for easy management of complex and multiple schemes.

who we are

What is SUMAC^®?

An online SaaS (Software as a Service), helping organisations match people together for transformational mentoring and coaching experiences.
A professional and seamless way to design and publish schemes, create and manage partnerships, maintain accurate records, and streamline administrative processes.
A simple, effective, and affordable solution for managing mentoring and coaching programmes.

who we are

Our ethos

We are learning and development practitioners, and we recognise the potential for mentoring and coaching to transform lives and careers. Like you, we know that running mentoring and coaching programmes can be time-consuming and generate large amounts of data, which can lead to inefficiency. We want to manage our programmes as effectively as possible, so we can offer more opportunities to more people.

We developed SUMAC^® to help us achieve this goal.

We bring a new way of working to the table which takes the "heavy lifting" of designing, publishing and managing partnerships away.

We help those struggling to manage their mentoring schemes with friendly advice, training and tools.

We want to help organisations to get the maximum benefit from their mentoring and coaching programmes by providing friendly advice, training, and tools.

meet the team

I’m the founder and manager of SUMAC^®. I’ve worked in learning & development for more than 25 years and I am a dedicated advocate of mentoring and coaching. I’d be delighted to talk to you about SUMAC^® and how you could make best use of the platform to help you manage your mentoring and coaching programmes.

Jos Finer, founder and manager

As a web developer with 9 years of experience, I'm working to ensure that SUMAC^® continues to provide a quick and easy experience for users wanting to painlessly manage their mentoring schemes. If you've any ideas for future functionality, let me know!

Gordon Thomson, lead developer

let us help you

I’m the founder and manager of SUMAC^®. I’ve worked in learning & development for more than 25 years and I am a dedicated advocate of mentoring and coaching. I’d be delighted to talk to you about SUMAC^® and how you could make best use of the platform to help you manage your mentoring and coaching programmes.

Jos Finer, founder and manager

As a web developer with 9 years of experience, I'm working to ensure that SUMAC^® continues to provide a quick and easy experience for users wanting to painlessly manage their mentoring schemes. If you've any ideas for future functionality, let me know!

Gordon Thomson, lead developer

let us help you

We can help you!

Improve efficiency, reduce overheads.

SUMAC^® was designed specifically for use in Higher Education, but is an effective way to manage mentoring and coaching schemes in any sector.

Why mentoring and coaching? See our mentoring resources page for more info.

Why SUMAC^®? See our testimonials from happy customers.

We can help you!

Improve efficiency, reduce overheads.

SUMAC^® was designed specifically for use in Higher Education, but is an effective way to manage mentoring and coaching schemes in any sector.

Why mentoring and coaching? See our mentoring resources page for more info.

Why SUMAC^®? See our testimonials from happy customers.

how it works

One platform. One solution.

Many users, many partnerships.

Simple, effective, affordable.

Schemes are managed through SUMAC^®'s easy to use interface, and served securely to your web browser. Optimised for mobile and tablet, the platform can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

SUMAC^® allows you to design and manage multiple schemes, each tailored to meet your specific requirements.

Our security features ensure safe and protected data storage, with scheme managers, coordinators, and administrators each granted appropriate levels of access.

Scheme members are able to edit and maintain their own profiles, meaning up to date information, quicker and more accurate matching, and fewer headaches!

Simple scheme administration: Schemes are managed through SUMAC^®'s easy to use interface, with secure access via web browser. Compatible with PC, Mac, and optimised for mobile and tablet, the platform can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
Flexible scheme design: SUMAC^® allows you to design and manage multiple schemes, each tailored to meet your specific requirements.
Secure, granular access for administrators: Robust security features ensure safe and protected data storage, with scheme managers, coordinators, and administrators each granted appropriate levels of access.
Profile pages for all members: Scheme members are able to edit and maintain their own profiles, meaning up to date information, quicker and more accurate matching, and fewer headaches!

features

Adaptable scheme design

Customise online sign-up forms.
Add your own brand logo.
Choose your own terminology.
Edit email templates.
Create custom emails.

Programme scalability

Seamless user onboarding.
Multiple schemes; one account.
Intra-, extra- or cross-organisational schemes.
Highly configurable subscription tiers to suit your needs.

Flexible member options

Participants can join more than one scheme, and have different roles in each.
Multiple partnerships for individual participants supported.

Accountability and reports

Full historical records.
View member and partnership profiles to track status and progress.
Reports suite – view, print, and download to Excel^®.
Sortable tables allow for easy filtering of member data.

Intelligent matching

Intelligent matching based on easily managed matching algorithm.
Adjust matching algorithm with weighted priority levels.
Match from individual profiles or in bulk matching process.

Scheme management built-in

Editable default emails and personalised custom emails to suit every scenario.
Add different types of note to member and partnership profiles.
Add ‘flags’ to profiles where action is required.
Date-specific reminders that can be scheme-wide or for specific admin users.
Live tracking of partnership status.

Software updates

Hosted in the cloud, you'll never need to install.
Updates are continual and incremental.
All upgrades included in subscription price.
Admin-accessible bug tracker allows for easy reporting of bugs and recommendations.

Technical support

Depending on subscription level, email or telephone support is provided.
Online bug tracker allows for reporting bugs and making recommendations.
Progress can be monitored through bug tracker.
Your bug reports and recommendations form and shape SUMAC^®!

Secure data

UK located, ISO 27001 certified data centers.
SSL certified throughout (in use across whole system) to protext your privacy.
Secure and strong password creation with visible strength meter.
Granular security levels for authenticated users.

benefits

Benefits

click to view tap to view

see a demo

Demo

workflow

Workflow

Design
Publish
Recruit
Match
Manage

Click to see SUMAC^®'s workflow for managing your schemes.

subscription levels

Workflow

Design
Publish
Recruit
Match
Manage

Manage

Member details can be edited by both members and administrators.
Email system for sending updated to scheme members.
Dashboard displays notifications and reminders.
Previously 'Withdrawn' participants can be re-matched.

subscription levels

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Schemes available

1

4

20

Member records

50

1000

5000

Admin users

3

20

100

Onsite training

No

One free onsite training (during initial subscription period only, expenses charged).

One free onsite training (during initial subscription period only, all costs included).

Online user guide

Yes

Technical support

By email

By email/telephone (business hours)

User support

By email

By email/telephone (business hours)

Support response time (email)

5 working days

3 working days

1 working day

User group membership

No

Yes

Additional training sessions available (fee and expenses charged - quotations will be provided)
One additional training session available (expenses charged)

Subscription levels

Schemes available	Member records	Admin users	Onsite training	Online user guide	Technical support	User support	Support response time (email)	User group membership
Bronze	1	50	3	No	Yes	By email	By email	5 working days	No
Silver	4	1000	20	One free onsite training (during initial subscription period only, expenses charged).	Yes	By email	By email	3 working days	Yes
Gold	20	5000	100	One free onsite training (during initial subscription period only, all costs included).	Yes	By email/telephone (business hours)	By email/telephone (business hours)	1 working day	Yes

Additional training sessions available (fee and expenses charged - quotations will be provided)
One additional training session available (expenses charged)

prices

Pricing

We're well aware that budgets are tight.

We know that software can be expensive. That’s why we’ve made SUMAC^® as affordable as possible.

On average our customers spend less than £5 per scheme member, per year.

Other mentoring platforms typically charge from £60 to £300 per scheme member per year...

SUMAC^® is the best value you will find!

Still not convinced? We also offer a 3-month trial so you can be sure that SUMAC^®; is the right software for you.

Contact us for further information or a quote.

Average cost per member record currently hosted on SUMAC^® is £3.63. Cost per scheme member varies according to subscription level, discount applied, and number of scheme members.
Average cost per member according to available pricing information of several alternative mentoring software companies.

testimonials

Pricing

We're well aware that budgets are tight.

Other platforms charge from £60 to £300 per scheme member per year...

On average our customers spend less than £5 per scheme member, per year.

Still not convinced? We also offer a 3-month trial so you can be sure that SUMAC^®; is the right software for you.

Contact us for further information or a quote.

Average cost per member record currently hosted on SUMAC^® is £3.63. Cost per scheme member varies according to subscription level, discount applied, and number of scheme members.
Average cost per member according to available pricing information of several alternative mentoring software companies.

testimonials

Testimonials

...simple, time saving but effective depository for all partnership information...easier reporting and evidencing of impact.

Easy to adapt... and extremely user-friendly for new applicants to schemes.

SUMAC^® reduces the amount of time spent on administrative functions

SUMAC^®...has significantly reduced the number of errors we've made while matching...It's simplified the matching process.

SUMAC^® has supported us hugely... It is easy to use and new tools are continually being added.

SUMAC^® provides us with a professional coaching and mentoring matching interface that all staff can access in a confidential manner which given the highly personal nature of this intervention is hugely important. It has provided the co-ordinators of the various mentoring and coaching schemes with a simple, time saving but effective depository for all partnership information which makes for easier reporting and thus evidencing of impact and engagement by our staff.

Sophie Sowerby
Training Manager
Durham University

Of great benefit is the user interface – both being easy to adapt on an admin level and extremely user-friendly for new applicants to schemes. Another asset is management of partnerships year on year when mentors often stay part of the scheme and new mentees apply.

Dr Sandra Oza
Researcher Development and Projects Officer
University of Dundee

Overall the use of the SUMAC^® system reduces the amount of time spent on specific administrative functions and therefore allows for the programme team to focus more time on the communication of our programme and on the matching and development of our mentoring programme participants. SUMAC^® offers us an effective mentor and mentee recruitment portal.

Frances Grebenc
HR/OD Partner (Learning and Development)
University of Edinburgh

SUMAC^® is a significant improvement over the manual systems we were using previously. Membership data held on SUMAC^® is reliable as each partnership or member record can be annotated and each interaction recorded. SUMAC^®'s ability to present a shortlist of potential matches has significantly reduced the number of errors we've made while matching (e.g. matching someone against their preferences). Communication with scheme members is also more manageable.

Dr Adam Jones
Research Staff Development Coordinator
University of Newcastle

SUMAC^® has supported us hugely to manage our internal coaching network which is continually growing. It is easy to use and new tools are continually being added. We’ve done away with the excel spreadsheets and using SUMAC^® ensures our process is efficient and user friendly. We have also recently extended SUMAC^® to some of our mentoring schemes for both staff and students.

Dawn Tomlin
Organisational Development and Learning Coordinator
University of the Arts London

Contact us

Mail us

University of St Andrews

College Gate

St Andrews

KY16 9AJ

Fife, Scotland, UK

What is SUMAC®?

What is SUMAC®?

Our ethos

Jos Finer, founder and manager

Gordon Thomson, lead developer

We can help you!

Improve efficiency, reduce overheads.

We can help you!

Improve efficiency, reduce overheads.

One platform. One solution.

Many users, many partnerships.

Simple, effective, affordable.

Adaptable scheme design

Programme scalability

Flexible member options

Accountability and reports

Intelligent matching

Scheme management built-in

Software updates

Technical support

Secure data

Benefits

Demo

Workflow

Design

Publish

Recruit

Match

Manage

Workflow

Design

Publish

Recruit

Match

Manage

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Subscription levels

Pricing

We're well aware that budgets are tight.

Pricing

Testimonials

Contact us

Mail us

Navigation

What is SUMAC^®?

What is SUMAC^®?