As Sigma celebrates being in business for sixteen, it seemed an excellent opportunity to reflect on how far the company has grown and evolved over the years and the journey we have taken to get to where we are today.
From humble beginnings in 2008, today, Sigma is a global business transforming retail environments for clients across the world. Our solutions include the complete spectrum of design services; consolidation, where we take full control of the Goods Not For Resale (GNFR) supply chain; instore transformation, with an end-to-end solution for managing transformational programmes across clients’ estates; the full suite of mechanical and electrical installation (M&E) services, including the integration of digital technologies; and holistic project management, where we plan and oversee every aspect of a project.
Our Journey
Founded in 2007, Sigma began trading in 2008 with the launch of the Sigma Projects Division. Our first year saw us secure supermarket giant, Asda, as a client, for whom we set up a warehouse and consolidation centre. Other clients over the next few years included Netto, which had been bought by Asda in 2010, and arts, crafts and books retailer, The Works. By 2013, we had established the Sigma M&E Division, set up the Sigma shared user facility and saw our workforce grow to over 100 colleagues.
Between 2014 and 2017, the company’s continued success saw us open offices in Australia and Shanghai as well as launch our Construction Division and Fixtures Team. This period also saw a raft of well-known brands join our client list, including Big W, Boots, Foot Locker, Kmart, Lovisa, Primark, Pets at Home, Sainsbury’s, Sports Direct and Target.
2018 was a significant year for Sigma. Aside from adding Go Outdoors, Halfords and Lidl as clients, also receiving an International Safety Award with Merit from the British Safety Council, the Sigma Group was acquired by Three Hills Capital Partners.
By the end of the decade, Blacks, Dignity, Superdrug and Terry White had all become clients, our workforce exceeded 250 and the company was ranked in The Times Fast Track 100, making Sigma one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies over the previous three years.
During the current decade Sigma has continued to grow and evolve, acquiring energy, engineering and project management company, Gondola Pro in 2022. The company now also counts Co-op, Go Outdoors, Entain, M&S, Morrisons, Specsavers, Tim Hortons, and Tesco among our blue-chip clientele.
Beyond the corporate world
As a business that takes its corporate social responsibilities seriously, our journey has been one in which Sigma has been committed to doing its very best for employees, charities not to mention the environment.
We support our colleagues not just with excellent career development opportunities, but also with an enhanced working environment that includes support with fertility and mental health, a healthcare scheme that offers fast access to services, and generous maternity and holiday leave. We also run numerous social events, awards ceremonies and other celebrations.
Over the last 16 years, Sigma has also supported a growing number of charities, many of them local to our headquarters in West Yorkshire. These include the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity which promotes mental, physical and financial wellbeing across the construction community; Trinity Mission, a Castleford charity that provides food and clothing banks and mental health support; and the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which raises awareness of MND, funds research and supports those with the disease.
Sustainability has also become increasingly important to Sigma and our clients over the years. We are making significant efforts to deliver a more environmentally friendly supply chain.
Our aim is to transform our clients’ buildings and interiors into smart environments where wellbeing, productivity and efficiency are improved, operational costs are reduced and sustainability is championed. In doing so, we provide a framework for managing positive environmental adaptation that ensures that we implement all necessary measures to protect and enhance the environment and comply with regulations.
Sigma has come a long way since 2008. Today, we are a global company serving blue chip brands across continents with a complete solution for the transformation of their retail stores. While this commercial success is to be celebrated, we are reminded of the need to do more for the environment, the charities that do such inspirational work in our communities, and the wonderful colleagues that have made Sigma the success it has become.