We take our responsibility as a business seriously, and through Sigma Connected CSR projects, we are committed to supporting our environment, our people, and connecting with the communities in which we operate across the UK, South Africa and Australia.
All our employees are given the opportunity to apply for a grant from the Sigma Connected Community Foundation to support a local not-for-profit organisation within their communities. We have a quarterly budget of £3,000 which is shared between the suitable applications received each quarter.
Additionally, all employees can make a personal £2 donation directly from their salaries to our nominated charity. We are currently supporting Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
We believe there is a different way to do things, including how and who we recruit. Working with support agencies we look to disadvantaged communities or cohorts, both in the UK and South Africa, to identify high potential talent and support them into the workplace through specific training and dedicated support.
In South Africa we partner with Shadow Careers to provide permanent employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. Currently over 60% of our new hires have come from disadvantaged backgrounds and communities in the Western Cape. All delegates are fully equipped and embedded in the Sigma culture before they complete their 12-week work readiness programme through job shadowing.
In the UK we work with four different partners to enable the long-term unemployed into the workplace – People Plus, Back to Work, BMET and Seetec – and 55% of our employees join us through one of these organisations. Candidates receive interview guidance and skills training before they join the Sigma training programme to give them the confidence and support to enter the workplace again.
Providing alternatives for individuals who can’t afford university fees, we hire apprentices. This programme, in association with Birmingham Metropolitan College, enables people to train on the job.
In partnership with Suited for Success, we help people return to work in the UK by offering employment skills workshops and assisting with application advice.
By helping unemployed men and women with the interview process, and providing suitable clothing, we are able to give them the confidence they need to make a positive first impression.
In partnership with environmental charity Treedom, for each new member of the Sigma Connected team, we are giving a tree to farmers in Tanzania, Ecuador and Madagascar, with the aim of helping them with food and shelter while helping us become carbon neutral.
As part of this initiative, new Sigma Connected employees in the UK, SA and Australia are given a virtual tree to plant in the Sigma Forest. The gift recipient of each tree receives a clear account of the project activities from the beginning and is regularly updated on what is achieved thanks to their commitment.
With a diverse workforce in three countries, we want to ensure that everyone in our team has a voice, with a no-blame culture ensuring we are able to progress together.
Committed to gender diversity, we strive to provide an inclusive environment from the top down where women feel understood and respected as professionals and individuals.
We have launched a global initiative, Sigma Women, which ensures the promotion of gender equality.
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Regional Managing Director, Australia
Jason has over 25 years’ of driving strategic, transformational change across diversified businesses and sectors. He has joined Sigma Connected to use his leadership skills to establish the business in Australia.
With an aptitude for building and sustaining trust-based, shared-value partnerships, Jason brings a depth of service offering, experience of driving high performance teams and a flexible approach to adapt to changing client requirements to our Australian business.
Regional Chief Financial Officer
Andrew was appointed CFO in April 2015, assuming responsibility for the strategic financial management of the group. Prior to this, Andrew spent 3 years as Head of Finance where he had day to day oversight of the finance function and successfully built out the operational finance platform.
Before joining Sigma, he spent eight years with HomeServe in a number of UK Group roles. He is also a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.
Regional Managing Director, South Africa
David is a multi-award-winning leader with a proven track record of success with several FTSE 50 and challenger brands in both B2B and B2C markets. David has over 20 year’s experience within both the UK and offshore locations and has built a reputation for business turnaround and recovery. David is responsible for our South Africa operations effectiveness around delivery and performance.
Chief Financial Officer, South Africa
Justus qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2000 after which he spent 5 years in the UK at PwC largely focusing on multi-national technology companies. He then went on to work for PwC in New York City, returning to his native South Africa in 2008.
Justus joined the Digicall Group in 2009 and since moved up the ranks within the group and taken on financial responsibility for Sigma Connected South Africa.
Justus overseas all the financial reporting for Sigma’s Cape Town business as well as having responsibility for all Sigma’s South African real estate.
Chief Technology Officer
With over 20 years’ experience in IT across a range of industries, from start-ups to large enterprises, Ian’s roles have spanned all aspects of technology, architecture and strategy. Ian comes with a degree in Physics and Electronics and a PhD in semiconductor technology.
He specialises in enabling business process and innovation through effective use of technology. He also has a strong technical background including security, networking, infrastructure operations, datacentre design and software development.
Chief Commercial Officer
Ben has 20 years’ experience in Board Director and NED roles across Retail Utilities and BPO across both large corporate and private companies.
Prior to joining Sigma in 2019 Ben was trouble shooting in the Energy sector, supporting turn around and new start ups.
Within the Sigma Connected Group Ben has day to day responsibility for Sales, Marketing, Client Services and PMO across the entire Sigma Connected Group which include the UK, South Africa and Australia.
Chief Executive Officer
Gary is a founding member of Sigma since setting up the business with Mike Harfield in 2011. Gary has been the CEO for 3 years and takes the lead with external relationships and investor strategy.
Gary has over 25 years’ experience running large contact centres across the UK and in South Africa with a specialism in early arrears and debt collection. Over the last 14 years he has worked with the majority of the Energy Big 6. Gary remains very active with all Sigma’s client engagements and continues to lead on new business opportunities for the group.
Chief Operational Officer
With more than 20 years of industry experience, including 12 as a Senior Manager, Mike is ultimately responsible for Sigma’s operational development and strategy, including technical infrastructure, operational teams, contact solution / dialler, IT risk management, MI production, process automation and physical growth.
Mike is a founding member of Sigma. Prior to this Mike founded consumer trace business Regent Recoveries and was a Senior Manager within leading debt recovery law firm HL Solicitors.
Gary is a founding member of Sigma since setting up the business with Mike Harfield in 2011. Gary has been the CEO for 3 years and takes the lead with external relationships and investor strategy.
Gary has over 25 years’ experience running large contact centres across the UK and in South Africa with a specialism in early arrears and debt collection. Over the last 14 years he has worked with the majority of the Energy Big 6. Gary remains very active with all Sigma’s client engagements and continues to lead on new business opportunities for the group.
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