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Taking on Paris2Nice Challenge for Saplings, Goresbridge
Taking on Paris2Nice Challenge for Saplings, Goresbridge
This year 7 members of our team along with 3 of our French counterparts in Groupe Adequat are cycling from Paris to Nice (750km over 6 consecutive days) in a bid to raise much needed funds for our chosen charity this year – Saplings School, Goresbridge. Saplings is a special school for children aged 5 to 18 with autism and complex needs in Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny. All students have a primary diagnosis of autism and a secondary diagnosis of a mild, moderate, or severe/profound learning disability. Our target is to raise €30,000 to help the school create sensory rooms and build specialized indoor and outdoor play areas for the students, that will help the students to grow, learn and develop. Sigmar’s Marketing & Communications Manger and Kilkenny native Julia Purcell said, “I’m delighted we’re able to undertake this project for Saplings Goresbridge. Having met the kids and staff members of the school, I’m more determined than ever to help them hit the fundraising goals to complete the project. The staff and kids of Saplings are inspirational and deserve a facility that reflects this.” The team are not just cycling 750km to fundraise but once the target is achieved, they will help complete the manual labour involved in the project along with 40 colleagues. This will be done in partnership with Difference Days who organise CSR initiatives. CEO, Dennis O’Reilly said, “This is a really worthwhile and much needed project. Everyone in the school is absolutely brilliant, but we can see that the facility can be transformed, so we’ll do that… in one day. We’ll involve the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Sigmar to roll their sleeves up and be a key part of the project.” Sigmar CEO, Adie McGennis said, “We are thrilled and honoured to run this project. The team are training hard for the cycle, but that may be the easy bit! We are covering all our own expenses, but need to raise €30,000 to cover the costs of the project. Having seen some of the Difference Days team’s other projects and spoken to Julia about the school in Goresbridge, it will be an incredible but emotional project, that I’m thrilled we are supporting.” If you would like to give your support please visit www.idonate.ie/SigmarForSaplings.
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Sigmar Recruitment wins Recruitment Agency of the Year at ERF Awards 2021
Sigmar Recruitment wins Recruitment Agency of the Year at ERF Awards 2021
We’re thrilled to announce that Sigmar Recruitment picked up Recruitment Agency of the Year and Best in Practice – Sales & Marketing at the 2021 Employment & Recruitment Federation Awards on Friday 25th February 2022. In a year that Sigmar Recruitment will celebrate another major milestone; of being in business for 20 years, we are over the moon to receive this recognition. Speaking on the win, Sigmar CEO, Adie McGennis said; “It is a great testament to every single person in Sigmar and the professionalism, coolness and positivity they displayed over the challenges of the pandemic. Their ability to get involved in not just providing excellent service to our clients and candidates but initiatives such as Talent Summit and Ireland, Gateway to Europe, I’m so pleased for the team to receive this recognition. It has been a record-breaking year and this is the crowning achievement.” Alan Murphy who accepted the Best in Practice – Sales & Marketing Award added, “We are delighted to have won this award again after what has been a challenging but ultimately rewarding year in recruitment. It’s a testament to how the team adapted to the demands of the market and will inspire us to continue to grow our high performing team and offer a best-in-class service to our candidates and clients alike!” The postponed ceremony took place in the Shelbourne Hotel and was attended by over 360 guests. The awards are designed to identify and reward excellence in recruitment in Ireland and is judged by an independent panel, including representatives from the international recruitment sector, the National College of Ireland and DCU. A huge congratulations to all of our fellow ERF Award winners and nominees. Visit the Employment & Recruitment Federation website to see a full list of the 2021 winners.
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Irish jobs market reaches 20-year high, as office re-entry drives unprecedented levels of recruitment activity
Irish jobs market reaches 20-year high, as office re-entry drives unprecedented levels of recruitment activity
Sigmar Recruitment today reports a record high number of job placements over April, May, and June 2021. The number of placements during this period is higher than any other quarter in the recruitment company’s 20-year history. Current figures are up 6% on the previous record set in 2019 before the pandemic. As one of the largest recruiters in Ireland, Sigmar has offices across the country and is present in all professional sectors. The first half of the year saw strong, consistent growth with job placements breaking all records in the month of May, with June accounting for the second-highest month ever. Commenting on the rebound of the labour market, Sigmar founding Director, Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig says: “The jobs market in Ireland has never been stronger or more buoyant than it currently is. We’re seeing several macro trends converge all at once, which is creating significant churn in the market. Remote working has literally opened up a world of new opportunities no longer bound by location. This is coupled with a rising tide of consumer confidence, as many professionals find themselves in a stronger financial position than before the pandemic. “The last 18 months has asked big questions of us all, and the humdrum of lockdown has created a desire for change which is now resulting in unprecedented numbers of people moving jobs. Employee loyalty is increasingly under question, with remote work being less enjoyable, many workers are now committed to the experience of work over the employer, adding further to the current levels of churn.” IT accounted for one-third of all job placements throughout the quarter, followed in order by Financial Services, Sales & Marketing, Accountancy, Life Science & Manufacturing, Office Support, Public Sector, Construction, Professional Services. Business confidence has also grown steadily over the course of the year, as vaccination gathered momentum. The “low-touch economy” is booming is sectors such as e-commerce, digital, and logistics. Says Mac Giolla Phádraig: “The resurgence of permanent recruitment is somewhat unique to how we’ve rebounded from previous downturns, where we typically saw flexible work return quicker.” Although the vast majority of job placement in Q2 were understandably remote, Sigmar reports that the tide is beginning to change with the majority of employers now committing to hybrid work over the coming three months. Mac Giolla Phádraig advises: “As we now choose our workplaces, at a time when the power dynamic has shifted to the employee, employers need to ensure adequate work practices to reconnect the workforce with the workplace equitably. There is an inherent risk that new workforce inequities may emerge, such as “proximity bias”, where those closest to the centre of influence get greater recognition and therefore promotion opportunities as opposed to remote workers. When it comes to individual contribution the opposite could be argued that remote workers get the benefit of having less in-office distractions and their output is therefore greater.” Mac Giolla Phádraig likens remote work to long-distance relationships, which in many cases don’t work out. “We’ve gone from “living” with our employees in an office environment to long-distance relationships, which often sees commitment recede over time. The context of location also opens up new experiences and possibilities, which are now being explored on a scale never before seen.” He adds, “if we thought the war for talent was tough, just wait for the battle of attrition. It’s now emerging as the number one challenge for businesses across the globe.”
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Eoin Langdon promoted to Director
Eoin Langdon promoted to Director
Eoin Langdon has been promoted to a Director at Sigmar Recruitment. Eoin Langdon has been an Associate Director of the recruitment firm for the past four years. Before that, he was manager of the IT division for five years. A massive congratulations from all your friends and colleagues at Sigmar - so well deserved!
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Sigmar shortlisted for International Recruitment Awards 2020
Sigmar shortlisted for International Recruitment Awards 2020
Sigmar are delighted to be shortlisted for two awards at this year's Talint International Recruitment Awards which will take place in October 2020. Our team are finalists in the awards for: "Best Client Service", which recognises excellence and collaboration in the delivery of talent acquisition project or ongoing campaign; and "Best Recruitment Agency To Work For in Ireland and the UK" (£20-50m turnover), which recognises employers of choice in recruitment who can demonstrate innovation and impact in their attraction, induction, development and retention of talent. Sigmar were last year announced as the winner of "Best Recruitment Company to Work For in Ireland and the UK" so are looking forward to defending the title. Due to ongoing social distancing, TALiNT Partners will deliver the TIARA Recruitment Agency Awards Ceremony as a virtual event on Wednesday 21st October. See the full list of finalists
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Sigmar’s COVID Jobs Initiative Guides ONE in SIX Newly Unemployed in its First Three Months
Sigmar’s COVID Jobs Initiative Guides ONE in SIX Newly Unemployed in its First Three Months
Sigmar Recruitment today announces the impact of its, not for profit, COVID Response Jobs initiative three months after its launch. The online platform was set up as the COVID crisis took hold, and subsequently saw six hundred thousand people lose their jobs. It was set up to connect jobseekers with frontline jobs, offer career advisory services as well as free up-skilling opportunities for the restricted workforce, ultimately to support a more robust and effective recovery. The initiative has since seen: 83,716 jobseekers’ availed of career advisory services ranging from; video interviewing, remote working, digital collaboration, social branding, job hunting in the low-touch economy to traditional advice on interview preparation, and CV content. 10,702 availed of free online upskilling, through learning partner Alison.com. Most common courses completed were in Project Management and MS Excel. 3,010 jobseekers connected with over 200 frontline employers across retail & grocery, catering, healthcare, supply chain, production, security, and warehousing. 900+ jobs advertised over the period. 15,050 jobseekers subscribed on weekly basis for employment insights. Commenting on the initial results, founder of the initiative and Sigmar CCO Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig said; “ We’ve been overwhelmed by the level of engagement amongst jobseekers coming to the site, particularly the quantum availing of the career advisory services, which have been tailor-made to support the remote job search in the current environment. Recruitment has changed significantly in recent months and how jobseekers compete is now very different from what it was. Our career advisory service has helped jobseekers articulate competencies and achievements through a digital recruitment process for a lower touch economy.” “In addition, we are delighted to have supported over 200 frontline employers in a meaningful way and in turn help keep the national infrastructure up and running.” Commenting on the take up of upskilling, Mac Giolla Phádraig added; “We had 10,702 people take up free learning pathways through our partner Alison.com, in subjects such as Project Management, MS Excel, Web development, Data Science, GDPR, Accounting and many more. In addition to skills training, the learning content has been COVID curated for maximum impact across Business Skills, IT Skills, Mental Health, and Personal Development. Thanking partners of the initiative, Mac Giolla Phádraig commented; “When times were at their worst, our partners were at their best. It’s humbling to see how our combined efforts, can touch so many at a time of need and to see the effect of Team Ireland in action.” www.covidresponsejobs.com was created by Sigmar Recruitment, supported by Candidate Manager, Alison.com, The Irish Times, Communicorp and Virgin Media
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Sigmar Recruitment Appoints Former MD of Hays Ireland as it Scales Ahead of Anticipated Robust Recovery
Sigmar Recruitment Appoints Former MD of Hays Ireland as it Scales Ahead of Anticipated Robust Recovery
Sigmar Recruitment has today announced the appointment of Mike McDonagh as a Director of the company, as it gears operations towards supporting clients as markets recover. The appointment signals Sigmar’s ambition to build additional capacity as it continues to grow market share. Sigmar has fared better than most recruiters in the Irish market during the COVID crisis and has been at the forefront of industry response, launching https://www.covidresponsejobs.com/; an initiative to mobilise Ireland’s workforce and up-skill the restricted workforce for a more effective recovery. The appointment comes at a time when industry peers continue to retrench and signals Sigmar’s intention to continue to grow market share as green shoots appear. Mike is a highly respected industry leader with a significant pedigree in scaling successful recruitment businesses both in the UK and in Ireland. Most recently, Mike oversaw the growth of Hays Ireland as its Managing Director and previously served as Chairperson of Boardmatch, Ireland’s national corporate governance charity. Mike will join the leadership team to accelerate the growth of the core Irish business in delivering world class recruitment solutions and supporting international diversification. Welcoming Mike’s appointment, Adrian McGennis, CEO, Sigmar Recruitment said: “We are delighted with the appointment of Mike to the senior leadership team here at Sigmar. He has fitted in with the team and culture very smoothly. We knew Mike’s reputation, ambition and experience but our shared values make it an exciting appointment for everyone. It is consistent with our growth plans and whilst many are downsizing, we are delighted to continue to make key hires. Ten years ago, we saw the opportunity in a challenging/changing market to grow the business and because of our strong position and talented team, we see similar opportunities now.” Mike McDonagh commented; “I’m delighted to have joined such a successful organisation as Sigmar, a business I have admired for years for their excellent culture and values. Joining such a brilliant leadership team is a real honour and I’m very excited about helping the whole business realise the considerable opportunities in the market.”
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Base To Basecamp: Virtual Talent Summit Series
Base To Basecamp: Virtual Talent Summit Series
We’ve invited some of Talent Summit’s most popular keynote speakers and special guests back to base camp to share their insights, expertise and thought leadership, as the working world experiences decades of transformation each passing week. This six-part series explored how HR leaders can positively effect business continuity in the short term, grow market share in the medium term and enhance the working lives of our people in the long term. 1. Reconnecting the Workforce (April 30th): Now that the workforce has been dislocated, how do we plan to: (1) transition from a remote to a blended workforce (2) reconvene in the physical restricted workplace (3) re-connect, collaborate and compete for talent as markets recover? Guest Contributors: John Riordan, Director of Support, Shopify & Stephanie White, Global VP, People, eBay 2. Uncharted Leadership (May 19th): Navigating this Human Crisis. Guest Contributor: Margaret Heffernan, Entrepreneur, TED Speaker, Author & Former CEO 3. Organising Chaos for New Order (May 14th): Business norms have changed fundamentally and forever. How can we lead through the chaos to unlock a more robust agile organisation? Guest Contributors: David Barrett, CCO, AON Assessment Solutions and Ian McClean, Founder, Flow Group 4. The Evolving Role of the CHRO (May 21st): These recent weeks have asked big questions of HR leaders as the fundamentals of business and humanity collided. As the dust settles, how will the CHRO influence a faster more effective recovery? Guest Contributors: Jane Datta, CHRO NASA; Mira Magecha, CPO, Just Eat and Fiona Mullan, CPO, Ding.com. 5. Pride in Purpose (May 28th): The work-type and work-force we value has been turned upside down as its impact on society zooms sharply into focus. What lessons we can learn? Guest Contributor: Bob Gibbs, Associate Administrator, Mission Support, NASA; Rory Best, Former Irish Rugby Captain and Heath Slawner from Simon Sinek Inc. 6. Reworking Work (June 3rd): Rebuilding human centred organisations for enduring agility. Guest Contributor: Patty McCord, Author, TED Speaker, Former Chief Talent Officer, Netflix
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Sigmar Announces “COVID Ready” Learning Partnership with Alison to Upskill Newly Unemployed
Sigmar Announces “COVID Ready” Learning Partnership with Alison to Upskill Newly Unemployed
Sigmar Recruitment and Alison today announce a COVID ready learning partnership as part of the emergency jobs initiative www.covidresponsejobs.com. The initiative is an online platform set up by Sigmar Recruitment to help connect the displaced workforce with current frontline job opportunities, and to upskill the restricted workforce to enhance career prospects and enable a faster economic recovery. Alison, one of the largest learning websites worldwide, is now offering access to all of its courses free and unencumbered through www.covidresponsejobs.com. The learning content being offered through the platform has been hand curated to reflect in-demand, recession-proof skills across an array of business and IT disciplines, including; data science project management customer service accounting web development computer networking e-commerce The core learning has been paired with lifestyle courses covering mental health, stress management and practical content on parenting while working from home for example aimed to support those working remote throughout the crisis period and beyond. The learning pathways have also been designed with jobseekers in mind with content on public speaking, job hunting, personal development supported by jobseeker advice on how to compete in the current marketplace, including tips on video interviewing, digital collaboration, remote onboarding and much more. Commenting on the partnership, founder of the initiative and Sigmar CCO Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig says: “As one of the world’s largest free learning platforms, Alison presents an excellent opportunity for newly unemployed in Ireland to upskill. The learning content has been COVID curated for maximum impact encompassing business skills, IT skills, mental health and personal development. We also aim to support the restricted workforce by providing upskilling opportunities during the downtime, to better equip our workforce to rebound from the crisis in the medium term.” Speaking at the announcement, Alison Founder & CEO, Mike Feerick stated that the gesture is one Alison is happy to make. “While being a global learning business, most of our team live and work in Ireland and know personally people whose employment has been jeopardised by the coronavirus pandemic crisis. Alison has over 1,500 free certificate and diploma courses, in subjects from project management, languages, IT, to health & safety, elderly caregiving, MS Excel and free courses on GDPR. “If you have been laid off, it is an opportunity to build up and strengthen your workplace skills to enhance your chances for employment in the months and years ahead. We are delighted to partner with Sigmar on the COVID Jobs Initiative.” www.covidresponsejobs.com is a for purpose “Team Ireland” initiative created by Sigmar Recruitment, supported by Alison, Candidate Manager, The Irish Times and Communicorp, established to mobilise the Irish Workforce.
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