14/01/2020

January Blog – Well Being

A New Year brings the opportunity to review, make some changes and implement and initiate ideas which will take us forward in the new decade.

At Sygma, we have started 2020 with a toolbox talk at HQ. This gave Kevin, our Managing Director the chance to report on the 2019 calendar results which marked the company’s 18th year of operation! During this period of time we have seen huge changes in the electronic security industry, from camera technology moving from analogue to IP, the advent of analytics and biometrics, systems becoming more integrated and user friendly and customers realising that security systems can be utilised as positive management and health and safety enhancements rather than just to keep the bad guys out! Throughout this time Sygma have maintained their position at the forefront of technology, always striving to implement the latest and most efficient technology in line with the customer requirements. This has seen our excellent engineer team grow into a multi-disciplined and talented group with experience and qualifications that range from complex IP networking skills to heavy duty barrier and gate installation and repairs.

It is not only the electronic security industry which has seen profound changes during this period – the workplace has also changed beyond recognition, with flexible working hours now the norm and much more focus on the well-being of employees. With this in mind, we felt that it was a perfect opportunity to start the New Year with a talk on Mental Health Awareness led by Michelle Chapman from ‘We Are Thrive’.

Theresa – our Office Manager – who organised the session explained that ‘It’s so important to look after your team and ensure they are given the correct ‘tools’ for work, and not necessarily just hand-held ones’

In recent years, there has been a surge in positive attitudes about well-being in the workplace initiatives. Sygma recognises that supporting wellbeing in the workplace is vital if a business wants to progress and recognise that the way employees think and feel has a direct impact on everything from productivity to communication. Promoting good mental health is one of the most important steps to improving an organisation.

As well as the training session the team were given a factsheet of resources and phone numbers of who they can contact for additional support. One of the key organisations that can support is Mind – www.mind.org.uk as they explain ‘Smart employers know that organisations perform better when staff are healthy, motivated and focused. Research consistently shows that when employees feel their work is meaningful and they are valued and supported, they tend to have higher wellbeing levels, be more committed to the organisation’s goals and, importantly, they perform better too’.

Sygma have recognised this fact for a long period of time and we are proud of our employee retention rate with over 50% of our people exceeding their 10 year anniversary and this continuity of staff is key to being able to provide the best possible service to our customers, many of whom have supported Sygma from the very earliest days.

As part of our commitment to employees Sygma also conducts an annual, anonymous, employee engagement survey to ensure that staff can feedback both good and bad experiences without fear of negative repercussions. Anonymous surveys help managers get a clear picture of how their teams work, think, and feel, and can help them find patterns, fix problems, and communicate more honestly, openly, and effectively with everyone involved. This results in employees feeling understood, engaged, and appreciated.

We know that if we have a happy, motivated and engaged team at Sygma then this will help to maintain and improve our excellent customer service reputation, which year on year sees Sygma grow its Security and Fire businesses, based upon recommendations and introductions from existing satisfied customers. It is always a privilege to be recommended and we never take it for granted – we will approach this year as we did 18 years ago – as though it is our first day in business and we are setting out to forge a reputation for being the best Security and Fire business in the UK!

We look forward to an exciting 2020 and wish all of our customers a safe and prosperous one!