Almost 200 people have found new jobs through a unique Birmingham apprenticeship training academy.

The Sigma Financial Group (Sigma), one of the UK’s leading business outsourcing firms, has seen its staff numbers grow by 50% (300 to 450 employees) since being acquired by South African-based Digicall Group in 2016.

The training academy has been in operation for over 12 months and is a collaboration between Sigma, Birmingham City Council, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet).

So far over 190 people have been taken on by Sigma through the academy, which has offices on Birmingham’s Priory Queensway and in Prospect Hill, Redditch. A further 66 people have also received training support through the programme.

The programme will see an initial 14 people receive extra training to take on leadership and management roles within Sigma.

The academy has been established within BMet’s Greater Birmingham Professional Services Academy which prepares candidates for careers within the region’s business professional services sector and for administration and contact centre roles at Sigma. As part of the process, new recruits are provided with the opportunity to study for NVQ level 1, 2 and 3 in Customer Services whilst working at Sigma.

Mike Harfield, Chief Operating Officer of Sigma, said: “The training programme has been a superb success and provided the business with a group of talented people – some of whom are set to take on wider management roles.

“One of the real benefits is that we are equipping local people with the skills and experience they need to sustain long-term employment.

“It’s the latest in a long line of growth news for Sigma over the past few years. Our expansion into Birmingham, bringing new jobs to the city and adding quality people to our team has been vital to that success.”

Suzie Branch-Haddow of BMet, said: “Sigma wanted to find the best possible candidates for their future growth and development as a business. This model is the starting point for a comprehensive training programme and support network that will ensure all their staff will benefit.”

Sigma works in the B2B and B2C sectors with clients including major blue chip organisations from the utilities, financial services, retail and telecommunications industries.