Sirma Group received a prestigious award for corporate sustainability at this year’s ESG Awards, organised by the Bulgarian Stock Exchange and PwC.
On October 30, 2024, the official award ceremony for the ESG Awards 2024 took place at the Millennium Center in Sofia. For the first time in the competition, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, a co-founder of the Centre for Sustainable Finance and Energy and one of the competition’s partners, presented a special prize. This award recognized the achievements of public companies and was awarded to Sirma Group. It highlights our significant contributions to environmental, social, and corporate responsibility (ESG).
Nearly 50 companies from 14 industries entered the competition this year. They submitted 70 entries in the four categories of Strategy, Innovation, Education Programme and Sustainability Leader. Traditionally, the Strategy category received the most interest, with over 40 entries. More than 50% of the organizations applying for the competition operate in the sectors of Trade, Energy, Food and Beverage, Banking, Finance and Insurance.
Albena Markova, Advisory Services Partner and PwC Sustainability Platform Leader in Central and Eastern Europe, opened the awards ceremony. She presented the competition’s key results and emphasized the need for businesses to make an exponential change towards sustainability. The ceremony awarded organisations that implement effective ESG strategies, offer innovative products and services with a positive environmental impact, and run successful sustainability campaigns.
This year’s focus was on the business benefits and positive financial impact of ESG transformation, supported by motivating examples and ideas. Sirma Group was recognised for its dedicated efforts in these areas and its commitment to developing a sustainable future. The prestigious award acknowledged the successful implementation of the Sirma Academy (focused on social themes) and the photovoltaic plant (focused on environmental themes) that powers the company’s head office.
„At Sirma, we do not implement sustainable practices merely because they are trendy or expected. We have been convinced of their business potential and the financial benefits that come from these investments for a long time. A cleaner environment and happier people provide us with additional motivation,” stated Stanislav Tanushev, Director of Investor Relations and Sustainability at Sirma Group. “Initiatives like Sirma Academy and our photovoltaic plant are just a few examples of our commitment to ESG practices. We will continue to work diligently to achieve even better results in this area,” Tanushev added.
Sirma Academy exemplifies the company’s long-term commitment to investing in human capital and promoting technology education. Established in 2022, the Academy is now running its fifth training season. The Sirma Academy primarily aims to support Sirma employees by encouraging and facilitating their further education. Additionally, it offers opportunities for external experts seeking to retrain and begin careers in programming. Training for both groups is entirely free of charge, with funding provided by Sirma. This investment allows the company to attract and retain highly skilled IT professionals.
The second awarded case is the photovoltaic plant, which reflects Sirma Group’s dedication to sustainable energy and reducing its carbon footprint. This project showcases the company’s environmental responsibility and encourages other organisations to adopt similar initiatives. The plant was installed at the end of 2023, and by the end of October 2024, it is expected to provide 32% of the electricity consumed at Sirma’s headquarters. The investment in the photovoltaic plant is anticipated to pay for itself within two and a half years.
About ESG Awards
The Bulgarian Stock Exchange and PwC’s ESG Awards initiative recognizes organisations that actively implement sustainable business practices and innovative solutions for environmental protection and social well-being.
