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We are a mission-driven company that provides free world-class training to graduates wanting to make a positive impact through a career in tech and data, before then presenting them with the opportunity to start their careers as a Sigma Labs consultant where they are able to work with our brand name clients for 2-years.
As a certified B-Corp, we reinvest all our profits into delivering high-quality technical and professional training to graduates with or without coding/analytical experience, helping to launch them into successful, long-term careers in tech and data.
We’re proud to say our work has been recognised by the UK data industry, as we won both the Best Data Graduate Employer Award and Best Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative Award at the 2024 dataIQ Awards!
Why do we focus on tech and data?
Not only are these growing industries that will provide our trainees with the opportunity to enjoy long-term career success, they are also exciting industries that are constantly evolving, offering our trainees the chance to have varied careers where they are able to continuously learn and try new things.
This is reflected by a 2024 study that found that businesses have recently increased their investment in data analytics by 54%. This is likely due to the ever increasing amount of data that is produced every day. However, this data is often messy and ambiguous, which is why data professionals are in high demand as they have the capabilities to make this data useful and deliver insights that support decision-making at the highest levels.
These industries also align to Sigma Labs’ purpose as they are about driving positive change and developing smarter solutions, whether that be making more effective use of precious company data, helping to develop innovative products and apps, or even enhancing customer and public services.
But ultimately choosing to focus on these skills/industries allows us to position you at the forefront of a rapidly evolving digital world and provide you with unparalleled access to today's decision-makers and tomorrow's leaders.
Our offer is split into two parts: a four month training programme, followed by a two-year deployment as a consultant with one of our brand-name clients.
The training programme is designed to equip you with the technical and professional skills that are needed to excel in our clients’ roles and make meaningful contributions from day one of your career.
If you successfully complete the training, we will support you in landing a client role where you will be embedded within their team whilst receiving ongoing coaching and support from a dedicated Sigma Labs coach. If you excel during this time, there is the potential for the client to offer you a permanent position for after your deployment ends, this may even come with a promotion which we will support you towards.
However, it is entirely up to you what you choose to do after your deployment. Regardless of your choice, we are committed to supporting you with your future career path, and you will become part of our alumni network which provides you with avenues for ongoing connections and opportunities.
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The Training Programme
Our training programme can be seen as a more practical extension of your academic journey towards becoming a great professional - it’s like a short post-university masters with a supported job search to get you into the working world!
But so that you can be absolutely clear on what you are signing up for, our training programme is:
- Full time - 9am-6pm Monday-Friday.
- Approximately 12-16 weeks long - the variation is because we adapt our training to ensure it is relevant to your likely client roles.
- Completely free - unlike any university education!
- Unpaid - except for when we reimburse you for any reasonable travel expenses.
- Predominantly remote - there are a few exciting in-person days but you will not need to relocate for this portion of the programme.
- Focussed on embedding two practical skill sets - technical skills and professional high performance.
- Continuously updated - our coaches are all industry experts and constantly ensure our training is up to date and relevant to the broader industry.
- Designed to reduce drop outs - whilst it is possible to fail, we have a high success rate with over 90% of trainees successfully passing the full training programme.
Client Deployment
After your training, if you have not already secured a client role, you will enter a transition period that typically lasts about four to eight weeks. During this time, you will continue to solidify your knowledge and prepare for client interviews that we will arrange for you.
If you are successful in a client interview and secure a role, you will become a consultant employed by Sigma Labs but will conduct your day-to-day work with the client’s team. You will earn £30,000 in your first year, rising to £38,000 in your second year, and will continue to receive support from Sigma Labs through group training sessions and monthly one-to-one meetings with Sigma Labs’ expert coaches where you will discuss your development, career progression, and how you're doing.
To be completely transparent, although the majority do, not everyone who completes the training is successful in landing a client role with us. If this is the case, whilst we continue to set up client interviews for you, we will also support you in finding a job outside of our preferred client list as our ultimate aim is to ensure you get a great role.
What type of client role could I be doing?
We are unable guarantee the exact role, client or location of your two-year deployment as it is dependent on what client roles are available at the time. However we do take your preferences into account when suggesting you for roles, for example if you have religious beliefs that mean you would not work for a betting company then we would not put you forward for those opportunities. However, some generalisations and examples can be seen below to give you an idea of what to expect:
- Most common roles: data engineer and data analyst.
- Example industries some of our major clients work in: financial services, insurance, energy, retail, professional services and consulting.
- Location: The majority of our client roles are hybrid and based in and around London, so depending on the specific office requirements of your client company, you will need to be open to relocating to a more commutable location if needed. Therefore, whilst we have a few roles outside of London, please do not apply if you cannot relocate to within a commutable distance of London.
Why do we offer training followed by client work?
Through our training and deployment model, we are able to upskill individuals and provide them with career opportunities that they may not have otherwise been able to get with companies such as our top-tier client organisations.
However, in order to do this and survive as a business, we need to finance your training (approximately £9,000) and then employ you as a Sigma Labs consultant where you are placed with one of our clients for 2 years, and they then provide us with our revenue and allow us to ensure that our training programme will always be free!
We aim to be as transparent as possible. As part of this, all successful offer holders will receive a training contract detailing exactly what we will offer you as part of the training and the two year deployment, as well as key policies that deter people from taking advantage of our free training with no intention of fully committing to the training and subsequently becoming a consultant with us. As such, we ask that you only apply to our programme if you are able to commit for the full ~2.5 years.
Select a photo below to see what they have to say about their Sigma Labs expereince!
University Degree: Mechanical Engineering - University of Warwick
Sigma Labs Client Role: Consultant at a professional services firm
Current Role: Software Engineer at a financial services firm
What first sparked your interest in a career in tech or data?
Honestly, tech wasn’t always my first career focus as I was more drawn to finance. I think part of that was because I didn’t have a Computer Science degree, and aside from some experience with MATLAB, I hadn’t really been exposed to much programming.
It felt like a tough field to break into without that background. That said, I’ve always seen technology as an exciting space, especially with how quickly the world is evolving and moving in that direction. So when I came across the Sigma Labs opportunity, it felt like the perfect chance to explore whether this could be a path I’d genuinely want to pursue, which worked out!
How do you feel the training programme helped you prepare for the next step in your career?
To me, that foot through the door was so so important, I've always had faith in my ability to do well but I needed that chance to showcase myself as a professional and without a doubt Sigma Labs gave me that chance to really shine.
It also made me realise that one of my weakest areas was interviewing, which in my opinion is crucial to having a successful career. In order to really grow and move to bigger and better opportunities, your ability to interview is so important and I really struggled with it, but it was never addressed until the people at Sigma Labs really drilled it down into me, making me highlight my weaknesses and work on them nonstop, and it's honestly one of the biggest skills I've gained whilst being there and I know it'll take me far when I do want to pursue other opportunities again.
What responsibilities do you currently have in your role right now?
I currently operate at a senior level where I drive the architecture/design and implementation of the frontend for the products/applications that I work on.
What is the best thing about your current role?
My level of responsibility, for someone that has 3 years of experience, I've been able to build up a reputation of being reliable which has led to being given bigger and more challenging pieces of work. This has lead to me now having a senior role where I have the opportunity to communicate with senior stakeholders, and this has really pushed both my soft and technical skills very far.
University Degree: Politics and International Studies - University of Warwick
Current Role: Junior Data Engineer at an insurance firm
What first sparked your interest in a career in tech or data?
I first became interested in data during my second year at university. Although I’d always leaned more toward the humanities, I decided to challenge myself by taking a few coding modules alongside my other studies. That’s when I was introduced to data science and the R programming language, and I immensely enjoyed problem-solving and analysis through code. From then on, I knew I wanted to build a career in data.
What surprised you most about joining Sigma Labs?
I was most surprised by how in-depth the professional skills training was. I hadn't expected so much focus on areas like communication, time management, critical thinking, and business fundamentals, but those weekly sessions turned out to be essential. This curriculum helped me build the kind of interpersonal and soft skills that have been crucial to thriving in a real-world tech environment.
How would you describe your training cohort and the support you received from them?
My cohort was one of the best parts of the whole experience. I learned so much from the people around me, not just technically, but also in terms of collaboration and peer support. We helped each other prep for interviews, debug code, and navigate difficult concepts.
But beyond that, we built genuine friendships. Even now, over six months since the end of our training, we still meet up regularly, whether it’s for coffee, cinema trips, or birthday parties. That sense of community and friendship has been invaluable.
Have you had the chance to work on any exciting or meaningful projects?
Yes, I'm currently working on a large-scale data migration project. It’s exciting because I get to play a real role in moving complex datasets and ensuring data integrity throughout the process. It’s meaningful work that has a tangible impact on our customers, and it’s been a great way to apply the technical skills I built during training while continuing to grow professionally.
University Degree: Biosciences - Durham University
Current Role: Data Scientist at a leading private equity firm
What made Sigma Labs stand out from others you considered applying to?
Something that I was impressed with prior to joining Sigma Labs was the curriculum. It was comprehensive across the fundamentals and offered a range of specialisms across data, cloud and software engineering.
Since joining Sigma Labs, I have been blown away with their curriculum and it has proven to be even better than what had been advertised. This is something that has been relayed to me during my placement in that the preparedness of the Sigma Labs consultant, in regards to industry level technical skills, is market leading!
How do you feel the training programme helped you prepare for the next step in your career?
The training programme has taken me from being someone who only had a beginner's grasp on coding to someone who can deliver entire technical projects for a leading financial investment firm in the space of 6 months. That says it all really!
How would you describe your training cohort and the support you received from them?
I truly believe the best part of the training programme has been the amazing people that I have met along the way. My cohort were amazing during both the training programme and the transition period as they were incredibly supportive.
My cohort had a really collaborative and friendly ethos which made the work, which could be difficult at some points, a lot easier. We would regularly call over Slack/Zoom and discuss work and how we were finding things, it was often the highlight of my day!
How has your career developed since finishing the training – and what are you aiming for next?
The opportunities I have been given since starting as a data scientist at a global private equity firm have been tremendous and I can already see a clear development path. Crucially, I think what I have achieved is in no small part due to the Sigma Labs programme.
I am currently aiming to continue my development and work my way up in terms of seniority, where hopefully one day I will be leading a team of my own.
University Degree: Maths with Ocean & Climate Science - University of Liverpool
Current Role: Data Analyst at an energy company
What first sparked your interest in a career in tech or data?
I always really enjoyed maths and problem solving at school, and I was told coding was very similar to maths, so I thought I’d give it a go. I did a five-day crash coding course and I absolutely loved it! That, combined with how fast-paced and constantly evolving the tech industry is, and the endless opportunities for learning, is what really sparked my interest.
What surprised you most about joining Sigma Labs?
Honestly, the quality of the course and teaching completely exceeded my expectations. I learnt so much more than I thought I would. I was also a bit worried it might feel isolating or hard to stay motivated since it’s mostly online, but that wasn't the case at all - I was constantly in huddles with my fellow cohort members and we all supported each other throughout the course.
How has your career developed since finishing the training – and what are you aiming for next?
Since finishing the training, I've become a confident data analyst. I regularly respond to data requests, write complex SQL queries, and build dashboards using python.
One of the highlights of my time at Sigma Labs was being project lead for our final group project - I absolutely loved stepping into a leadership role and bringing the team together to deliver something we were all proud of. Looking ahead, I hope to move into an analytics lead role where I can guide others and make an even bigger impact!
University Degree: Computer Science - University of Birmingham
What first sparked your interest in a career in tech or data?
I've always had an interest in understanding how things work, and growing up at a time when computers and smartphones were becoming more prevalent led me to be curious about both how they work, but also how they can be used to solve problems. From this interest I continued to learn how different technologies can be put together to build up bigger systems that solve much bigger problems. Ultimately this led me to where I am now, and Sigma Labs has provided a great opportunity to continue to grow this interest into a career in tech.
What surprised you most about joining Sigma Labs?
The quality of technical and high performance training and the amount of support available is next level - It's way better than I could've imagined. Also, the focus on feedback is more detailed and useful than I expected, and has meant I can improve weak areas whilst also learning new skills.
Finally, the fact that Sigma Labs provides cohorts with a budget for social events was a nice surprise too!
How have you developed your skills since joining the training programme?
The 'hands on' teaching has broadened my skillset and given me access to technology I've never worked with, whilst the workshops and assessments have improved my problem solving and coding skills. So I now feel very well equipped to take on a range of problems.
Also, the high performance training has improved my soft skills, whether it's interviewing, presenting, putting together an action plan or working with a team, I feel a lot more confident.
University Degree: Computer Science - Royal Holloway
Current Role: Data Associate (working on both data engineering and analytics tasks)
What surprised you most about joining Sigma Labs?
For others considering applying, I wish they knew how valuable the training really is even though there is no pay initially. I have no regrets about not getting paid during training because the skills I've learnt, both technical and people skills, have been invaluable and I use these skills everyday with the client I've joined.
How would you describe your training cohort and the support you received from them?
My cohort really helped make the training not feel like training. Everyone was really friendly and helpful. There were many times where I or others would be stuck on a problem, or not quite understand something, and everyone would be ready to help. The best way I could describe it would be, it felt like they were ‘teammates’ instead of ‘colleagues’.
Have you had the chance to work on any exciting or meaningful projects?
Yes, one of my first projects that I worked on was a dashboard for the audit department, which would allow them to monitor projects, resources, revenue, etc. The automation of this data allowed us to shorten a process that would take weeks to a couple of minutes. Another plus would be that this project is allowing a lot of money and resources to be saved. I also got to use a lot of SQL, Power BI and Azure Pipelines, so I was able to develop my skills further.
University Degree: Computer Science - Kings College London
Current Role: Data Engineer at an energy company
What made Sigma Labs stand out from others you considered applying to?
How focused and relevant the training is. Rather than taking a generic approach, they teach you exactly what you need to succeed in a role, whether that’s data engineering, data analytics or software engineering. You cover a lot of ground, from technical tools to industry best practices. The programme is built on what employers are actually looking for in industry.
How do you feel the training programme helped you prepare for the next step in your career?
On the technical side, it gave me hands-on experience with cloud platforms, which is something I didn't learn at university but is essential in the industry. One of the biggest changes I noticed in myself was my ability to take on a full coding project. Before Sigma Labs, I wouldn't have known where to start but now I can build a project from scratch!
On the non-technical side, the programme also helped me understand how to work well in a professional environment. We're taught everything from setting SMART goals to writing professional messages and communicating clearly at work. That kind of preparation made a real difference when I started my first role.
Have you had the chance to work on any exciting or meaningful projects?
The most enjoyable was the Railway Tracker application we developed for our final project. My team built a system to track delays, cancellations, and statistics for the UK railway system, which allowed us to apply our skills to a real-world challenge. It also gave me a clearer understanding of how these types of apps are built and how they handle large amounts of data.
University Degree: Mechanical Engineering - University of Warwick
Sigma Labs Client Role: Consultant at a professional services firm
Current Role: Software Engineer II at a financial services firm
How do you feel the training programme helped you prepare for the next step in your career?
Sigma Labs was instrumental in helping me get my foot through the door in the ultra competitive world of tech, given I had no prior coding experience, so I owe them quite a deal.
To give something specific, the coaches helped me to develop a winning mindset with some principles that I still apply to my professional life.
What’s the most fun or memorable team activity you participated in during the training programme?
During the training, I really enjoyed the mid term projects (4 week sprints) we did as a collective group before showcasing them in a demo style. It was a really fun exercise and I learnt a great deal.
During my deployment, it was getting to know some really smart people in the industry and still keeping in touch till this day. The projects were also varied and exposed a lot to me really quickly which helped me learn fast!
What responsibilities do you currently have in your role right now?
My role is varied but typically involves the design and implementation of software for a fintech digital bank. I do everything from propositions / designing a solution and then implementing it with the full SDLC. Other responsibilities include conducting technical interviews for junior engineers.
University Degree: Biochemistry - University of Bristol
Current Role: Junior Data Engineer
What made Sigma Labs stand out from others you considered applying to?
The big aspect of Sigma Labs was its training programme, full time for about 3 months. As I didn't have a computer science degree or lots of practical experience, this relevant training in a professional but supportive environment was exactly what I was looking for, so that I could feel confident when I entered a full-time role. This was aided by professional high-performance training, where I improved my interview skills a lot and gained skills for problem solving and common business issues.
Have you had the chance to work on any exciting or meaningful projects?
At work I am always working on new projects! As it was a direct entry role and not a graduate scheme, I was almost immediately put on work that has real impact and makes a difference. I am now also starting to interact more with stakeholders as well, so really seeing projects all the way through.
How has your career developed since finishing the training – and what are you aiming for next?
My skills have increased immensely since starting work after the training, I don't think anything makes you learn faster than learning while you are working!
I work in Snowflake a lot, so I am currently revising for a certification in it, and then after that I may go for an AWS certification. We also have POC (proof of concept) projects at work, so the learning really never stops.
University Degree: Computer Systems Engineering - University of Bath
Current Role: Data Engineer
What made Sigma Labs stand out from others you considered applying to?
What made Sigma Labs stand out was the strong emphasis on support after securing a placement. As a recent graduate entering a vast and fast-paced industry, I found the promise of continued guidance and networking opportunities particularly appealing. This kind of structured support was exactly what I needed to launch my career with confidence.
What surprised you most about joining Sigma Labs?
I was most surprised by the level of both technical and professional support provided. The team offered valuable advice not just on coding, but also on workplace behaviour and soft skills, areas I hadn’t yet developed as someone new to the industry. What stood out most was how genuinely invested the staff were in my growth; I never felt like "just a number," which is something many graduates worry about.
What's your favourite thing about working in your current industry?
Since joining the finance sector through Sigma Labs, I’ve loved the opportunity to continually learn, both technically and about the finance sector itself. In just three months, I’ve learned and mastered TypeScript while contributing to a real-world software project. I’ve also gained insight into how the company itself works as an investment bank which was really interesting and has helped me understand how the project I am working on supports users across the company.
We limit who can apply to join us in order to align with our mission and therefore the following criteria must be met:
Right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK for at least 3 years after starting with us. Typically this means that the following applies:
- You are a UK Passport holder.
- You have EEA/EU Settled Status
- You have an Indefinite Leave to Remain
Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visas or accept applications dependent on future visas, including the non-extendable two-year Graduate Route, as this could prevent you from completing your employment with us.
Education
You must have completed your academic studies before joining our programme and you must have done all of the following:
- Attended a UK secondary school for at least two years.
- Not attended a private school at any point.
- Received a 2:2 or above from a UK university for your first bachelor’s degree - this can be for any degree as we accept applications from individuals with and without coding/technical experience.
- Graduated from your first Bachelor's degree in 2021 or later, or, if you have been in continuous education then from a Master's/PhD in 2023 or later.
Economic
If you meet all of the above, then you must also meet at least one of the following:
- Attended a non-academically selective state school between the ages of 11 and 16.
- Received local authority care.
- Received free school meals.
- Grew up in a household with a total annual income of less than £43,000.
- Received university benefits.
We firmly believe that anyone can forge a successful career in data and technology if they have a passion for problem-solving and a great work ethic. We also want to create greater equality in these industries and believe that exceptional talent is missed every day, which is why we choose to focus on potential rather than ‘proven’ experience. Therefore, regardless of your experience, background, or degree subject - we encourage you to apply!
Our application form can be found in the ‘Apply here’ tab and after you have completed it, the rest of the application process will include:
- A series of online games that give us an insight into how you think through problems. These games are fun to complete and should not take longer than 45 minutes!
- A more traditional online assessment where you are asked a set of questions that give us an insight into what makes you tick. This should not take longer than 40-50 minutes.
- A 30-minute Zoom interview with one of the friendly Sigma Labs team.
- A 45-minute Zoom technical interview with one of our technical coaches. This is the only stage that requires any coding knowledge to complete and this may seem daunting, especially if you have never coded before, but don't worry! This is not about showing how great a coder you are, instead it is about us wanting to see how you solve problems using code as a tool, and as part of this you need to understand how the ‘tool’ works, but again, don’t worry as we will help you to learn and prepare for this as part of the application process. However, if you would like to get a head start on this then you can start by using our recommended free online Python course from Udacity, and if you would like to understand more about programming in general then we would recommend using these resources from the University of Helsinki.
Before applying, we recommend that you read all of the information provided across the tabs above as they clearly outline exactly what our offer is. However, some of the key points are that:
- We have a strict set of eligibility criteria - please make sure you meet these before applying.
- You must have graduated before you start your training with us.
- You don't need any previous coding experience.
- We offer 3-4 months of full-time, high quality and supportive training followed by two years working as part of a client team.
- Our training is almost all online (i.e. no need to commute or relocate) with daily workshops, coding challenges and weekly coursework and projects.
- Support is provided through regular 1 to 1s, trainee support groups and a great coach to trainee ratio that allows for quick responses to questions.
- After starting with a client, the 1st year salary is £30,000 (the 2nd year salary is £38,000) and we continue to support you through regular 1 to 1s.
Applications are open!
We are currently accepting applications for our cohort that starts on the 18th of August. However, if you cannot join this cohort then you can register your interest for our next cohort, which will be starting in October 2025, and we will email you when applications open.
If you have any questions before applying, please see our FAQs page as this provides answers to the most common questions. However, if you have any further questions then please drop us an email and ask us anything!
