SQS (Software Quality Systems), based in Durban, Westville, has beat out several other IT companies to be named “2009 IT Leading Employer” by CSSA (Computer Society South Africa), in association with Talent Align IT.
Since 2008, this award, initiated by Talent Align, has focused on giving credit to leadership within the IT arena.
“Until now the main emphasis in IT has been the technology, and we as an industry have not given due credit to the people in the industry,” explains Gail Sturgess from Talent Align.
Each year IT, or IT-related, companies are invited to participate in an online survey hosted by Talent Align. The employees of these companies complete a series of questions, which are based on the “Gallup Employee Engagement Questionnaire”, which has been adapted for the IT industry.
“They are standard questions aimed at key output information,” explains Sturgess.
The results of the survey are put into a weighted model and then validated by the CSSA.
In November last year, the top three companies were invited to the CSSA Award Breakfast Ceremony, in Johannesburg, where SQS South Africa scooped the award.
Kim Johnston, Sales Director of SQS SA, received the trophy on behalf of the cmpany: “We are very proud and feel this award is in good recognition of the effort we are putting into developing young South Africans.” Johnston went on to explain that SQS is focused on developing young South Africans and promotes the development of previously disadvantaged people. SQS has recently celebrated its fifth year of operation in South Africa.
Natasha Davenport, Head of Human Resources for SQS SA, supported this positive approach: “It's a big deal for us, knowing that our employees are engaged in their work. It also says that we have good leadership and a good base.”
Each year South African graduates joining SQS are accompanied by others from Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to further their training in what Johnston calls the “SQS boot camp”.
“This induction process is an intense training programme that helps equip these graduates either for the international IT workplace or our strong base of local SA clients. SQS consultants regularly work overseas where they gain international experience and bring this back to businesses based in SA.” SQS SA currently has a staff complement of 131, 60 of which are currently working on international projects.
SQS SA in Durban (Westville) is one of a number of offshore testing centres of SQS Group Limited, an independent global IT services group, comprising 16 countries with 27 years' experience, specialising in Independent Software Testing and Quality Management. SQS SA also has offices in Johannesburg.
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