Author: Viliana Staneva

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, people remain our most valuable asset. Education is the key to a successful future for our society and economy. At SiteGround, we believe that investing in education is the foundation of any successful society.

Our strongest example is always personal. In our team, we believe that everything starts with us!

SiteGround People Supporting Education

A Personal Example – Ivo Tzenov 

Our founder, Ivo Tzenov, himself a graduate of the American University in Blagoevgrad, returned to share his inspiring journey with the new generation. In his motivational lecture, he talked about how the idea for SiteGround was born, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned on the road to global success. Ivo emphasized the importance of adaptability and the pursuit of learning and continuous development in a rapidly changing world. His advice was a truly inspiring spark for students who dream of building their careers.

Ivo was joined by colleagues Valentina Kozhuharova, HR Manager, and Dorothea Hadjigeorgieva from the company’s investment department. Valentina shared more about the development of SiteGround’s culture, while Doroteya gave examples of the company’s investment strategies that respond to current trends with a focus on current global challenges such as climate change and sustainable production.

Teacher Training 

We believe that quality education starts with teachers. That’s why, in partnership with our “Lead by Example” foundation, we organize practical workshops called “Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom. This year, we reached nearly 100 teachers in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Stara Zagora, teaching them how to integrate artificial intelligence into their teaching. Studies show that only 1/3 of teachers in Bulgaria are familiar with these technologies and many are still skeptical. Our workshops aim to change this by providing teachers with new skills and tools that can make learning more engaging and effective.

Support for Students 

We don’t forget about the students either. With our leading AI expert, Yassen Kiprov, we conducted the first of a series of inspiring lectures for seventh-grade students. Yassen discussed the various applications of artificial intelligence and shared personal experiences from his professional journey. He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies, which is crucial for success in the modern work environment. At the end of the lecture, he offered practical AI tools that students can use for educational purposes.

In addition to school visits, we are transforming our office into a knowledge hub. This summer, 15 third-grade students from the “Kocho Chestimenски” Primary School in the village of Dinka, Pazardzhik, immersed themselves in the world of technology and learned how to navigate their future educational choices during an exciting visit to us. Three lecturers from our company participated in the training.

SiteGrounder for 3 Days 

Summer is not just for vacation – we also organized our summer academy “SiteGround-er for 3 Days.” This initiative provided the children of our employees with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the business and develop new skills. For three days, 13 children aged between 15 and 20 participated in practical workshops, learned the basics of online business, and received career guidance from our specialists. We included a module on socially responsible behavior to highlight the importance of philanthropy in business.

Ecosystem 

There is an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. This is also true for education. We know that we cannot do it alone, which is why we have found our allies, whom we support sustainably and with whom we bring about change every day. We work on developing teacher potential, digitizing the educational process, and encouraging entrepreneurial thinking among youth, and we are developing a partnership with INSAIT.

Our commitment to education goes beyond the training for teachers and children that we organize ourselves. It is part of our activities and support for Teach for Bulgaria Foundation, the largest non-governmental organization in Bulgaria focused on transforming the educational system and processes for the better. Our investment over three years is €150,000, and together we launched the “Model Schools” program, which has already reached over 100 schools and 44,000 students, focusing on modernizing their management and teaching practices aimed at academic progress and the well-being of every student.

We recognize that education does not stop in the classroom. That’s why we invest in programs like ABLE, which offers youth from across the country the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial thinking and real business ideas. Additionally, our support for the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Technologies (INSAIT) is a strategic investment in the future of the Bulgarian education system. With up to €6 million over five years, we aim to attract world-renowned experts to train the new generation of specialists.

Education is a process that requires effort from all of us. We believe that together we can create a better future for the next generations. Let us be the modern enlighteners who change the world! 

October 10th marks World Mental Health Day worldwide. At SiteGround, this topic is an essential part of our overall health and well-being. It affects not only how we work, but how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Psychological support isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about increasing self-awareness, building coping skills, and fostering better relationships. 

According to the World Happiness Report 2024, mental health is a key component of national happiness. Countries with higher levels of mental well-being tend to rank higher in happiness overall. This suggests that there is a strong link between mental health and happiness.

How to Lower Stress Levels?

There are many things you can do to improve your mental health and lower your stress levels at the workplace or in general. Here are just a few practical tips that you can easily implement in your daily life whether you work alone, or in a team, from home or in the office:

1. Get regular exercise. 

Exercise is a great way to improve your mood and reduce stress. Any type of exercise, such as brisk walking, or a stroll around the block every day can boost your mood, and even help you sleep better. Whether you’re counting steps, distance or minutes spent outdoors, every effort counts.

Physical activity is something we in SiteGround believe is a very important part of everyone’s stress-free lifestyle. That is why in our office in Sofia, we have our own fitness center where, in addition to access to an instructor, we have more than 10 sports group training sessions every week. As a consequence over 50% of our Sofia team trains in the office every weekday, and more than 50% of our colleagues from other offices actively use their company covered sport cards. 

The sports initiatives in which our team is involved outside the office number more than 15 per year, and they are usually large events of a charitable nature. You can easily join some of those individually, such as Begach running club events, Legion Run, Bike and Run for Chepan, etc.  For eight years now, we have had our own football team, which actively trains, of course, again with the financial support of the company, and often participates in charity matches.

A unifying expression of these internal policies is our annual Get Fit Challenge, which we have organized for our team for 7 years in a row. The goal is to challenge and stimulate more people to start playing sports, as well as to support various social causes with their participation. Many of our colleagues are motivated to start active sports precisely through this initiative and continue after that, and every year we see more and more new enthusiasts.

2. Mind what you eat.

Eating a healthy diet can help improve your overall health and well-being, including your mental health. You’ll be amazed what difference your eating choices can make and we’re not even talking about appearance, but overall disposition. A quick start would be to reduce over-processed or junk food, shop local veggies, eat food that is in season, and try to cook your own meals at least once a week. It’s easier than you think.

At SiteGround we provide healthy meals and snacks for our employees, in addition to encouraging them to participate in physical activities. Our free restaurant for employees in Sofia has been operating for several years now, as well as our catering program for the offices in the country.

In our restaurant we enjoy a rich and balanced menu prepared by seven fantastic chefs who prepare the food in the restaurant on site and with products from selected suppliers. Every day there is soup, two types of salad, two meat dishes (alternating with fish) and two vegetarian dishes, including a vegan one. For those who exercise and monitor the energy balance of their food, the main nutritional values ​​of the healthy delicacies have even been calculated.

3. Relax & Rewind.

Spending time with loved ones can help reduce stress and improve your mood. A reason strong enough to make us implement reduced working time on Fridays. Our employees work shorter hours on Fridays, which gives them more time to relax and recharge.

This extra time they can spend with their loved ones or devote to developing themselves by learning new things or practicing their hobby is something the company believes in giving to make employees happier and more productive.

4. Find your mood-booster.

Have you heard the saying “Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life work super hard with no separation or boundaries”? Loving your work is great, but try to prioritize your spare time and find other things that make you feel good. Skiing, mountain bike, board games, dancing, books, movies – if you can find other team members to practice your hobbies with, even better!

At SiteGround we have a club of interest for all of the above. Every winter we organize company-covered ski and snowboard days and lessons for all team members who would like to attend – yes, on a workday. We go on mountain bike weekends, team hikes, and the most exciting of all – SiteGround Team festival outdoors to unwind, relax and recharge together. Find your bunch of like-minded people, and unplug every once in a while. It will do you more good in the long run.

5. Seek professional help. 

If you are struggling with your mental health, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. A therapist can help you overcome stress and anxiety, teach you coping mechanisms and help you develop a treatment plan.  

At SiteGround we have a professional mental health help program in place, including free consultations with a psychologist from the hOUR THERAPY platform.

The consultations are company-covered, and completely anonymous, featuring a professional psychologist of personal choice. They can be held in person or online, while confidentiality and privacy are guaranteed. There is a stable interest among our team to this perk, and they have the confidence that they may rely on professional consultations and advice whenever they need it.  

World Mental Health day may be just one day in the year, but the truth is, it’s how you spend every day that counts. By taking care of your mental health, you can improve not only your work, but your overall well-being and live a happier, more productive life! 🦄🎯

As the Summer festival season is coming to an end, there is one more major event on SiteGrounders’ work calendar: our Annual Team Festival. This is the 7th edition of the Sitegrounders-only event, which is even more special, since we’re also celebrating our team’s 20th anniversary! Curious what a day at the festival looks like? Here’s a sneak peek:

The story behind our team festival

We always go above and beyond – with our services, our products, and our technologies – and our team-building events are no exception. Each year we gather all of our 500+ employees in one place and celebrate our successes with a two-day full-swing crafts and music festival. But how did this epic fest idea come to life?

It all started back in 2015 when we realized our usual team gatherings just weren’t cutting it anymore. We had just grown to 300 team members spread across three different locations and we needed something fresh to bring us all together in celebration of our team efforts, all while keeping our 24/7 services running smoothly.

Our company culture has always been very people-driven, so we decided to ask our team to come up with their dream team-building idea. Each team had to come up with their own proposal and present it to everyone, who would then vote for the best proposal. That’s how the SiteGround camp festival idea was born – dreamed up, designed and run by our own team. We wanted it to be for us, by us, to highlight our team talents and values.

Since then, we’ve grown from 300 to 550 people, and so have our festivals through the years – without a single disruption in our 24/7 stellar work and services.

The Past Festivals

Here’s a quick trip down memory lane to show you just how far we’ve come.

The One When It All Started

The One By The Sea

The One In The Woods

For the next one, we took our 400+ team to the woods, and we focused even more on craftsmanship and fun. We added even more workshops to the program and welcomed even more music artists to the stage, opened by our own band, fittingly called “Technical Issues.”

The One All About Recycling

For our 2019 edition, we returned to the seaside and crafted a festival program centered around the zero-waste idea and way of life—while keeping it fun, of course! If you think those two can’t mix, just check out the photos above and feel the energy of that year’s event.

The Most Epic One So Far

Our 2023 Team Festival was all about bringing back the “for us, from us” magic! We had over 10 awesome workshops, tons of sports activities, and an EPIC concert with Rudimental as our stage headliner to entertain our 500+ team.

Fast Forward to Today

This year’s extra special because we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary! We’re taking our festival’s concept to the next level. With over 5000 sq m. of festival grounds, we’ve packed in more workshops and activities for not one but TWO FULL FESTIVAL DAYS. This means DOUBLE the excitement. And even more, we’ve prepared not one but TWO epic concerts with international headliners, and of course, our own “Technical Issues” band will be kicking things off.

Oh, and here is the sneak peek into the backstage of building our own festival we promised you earlier.

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A post shared by SiteGround Life (@sitegroundlife)

We won’t say much more, because we want the event to speak for itself. For live updates straight from the Festival, follow us on Instagram and Facebook. And don’t miss the EPIC aftermovie coming soon!

Hip hip hooray! SiteGround was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Customer Service Department of the Year category in The 21st Annual International Business Awards®. 

This is the third time our customer support team has been recognized for its excellence by the The International Business Awards! In 2020 we were awarded the People’s Choice Stevie® Award for Favorite Customer Service and the Silver Stevie® Award for Customer Service Department of the Year in the Computer Hardware & Services category.  In 2023 we have won a Bronze Award for Customer Department of the Year category.

The Stevie Awards are the world’s top honors for customer service, contact center, business development and sales professionals. This year’s awards had more than 3,600 nominations from organizations in 62 nations and territories and Stevie Award winners were determined through more than two months of judging by the average scores of more than 300 professionals worldwide. 

SiteGround’s Bronze Stevie® Award is presented for the excellent work shown by the company Customer Care team and their exceptional results, also underlined in the honorable Jury evaluation: “It is impressive how SiteGround Hosting increased the number of positive reviews received from clients, from 11000 reviews (4.6 score) in January 2023 to above 16000 reviews (4.8/5.0 score).” 

Our commitment to exceptional customer service is the cornerstone of SiteGround. By prioritizing customer care, meticulous attention to detail, and expert support, we’ve cultivated a loyal following and established ourselves as a global leader in the technology industry.

“Our pursuit of exceptional customer experiences is relentless. The dedication of our team, combined with the invaluable feedback from our customers, fuels our drive to continually improve and exceed expectations,” said Reneta Tsankova, Chief Operations Officer at SiteGround.

Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award 2024 winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA. 

Want to be part of our awesome Customer Support team? Find our current openings here: https://careers.siteground.com/#open-positions.

It’s not just an office, it’s a knowledge hub

15 third-graders from “Kocho Chestimenski” Elementary School in the village of Dinkata, Pazardzhik, immersed themselves in the world of technology and learned how to navigate their future careers during an exciting visit to our office at the beginning of their summer vacation. Here’s how:

The initiative is part of the summer activities organized by their teacher Maria Nikolcheva, who is a participant in the “New Path in Teaching” program of “Teach for Bulgaria”. The goal is to develop the children’s reading literacy and creative skills. As a long-time partner of the “Teach for Bulgaria” foundation, it was a true inspiration for us to host this meeting.

In support of the Education 

As a company, SiteGround has been supporting “Teach for Bulgaria” for over three years, donating 150,000 euros to the “School of Example” program, which covers over 100 schools and 44,000 students in the country, modernizing school management methods and teaching practices.

The visit to SiteGround gave the children the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of technology while having fun and working as a team. The children worked with an interactive unicorn-shaped circuit board created by another partner of ours: “University for Children”, which finally lit up in different colors. And so, thanks to technology, they discovered a new world of interests.

Their teacher shared that in the last two years, developing teamwork skills has been a major focus of their education, along with reading literacy. During their visit, the children actively helped each other while learning new things and having fun.

We share experience and inspire

At the end of the day, our colleague Sophia, who is from our design team, told the students about her career path in an engaging way. She showed them how, through perseverance and continuous learning, she has achieved her dream of working in the very thing that inspires and makes her happy and fulfilled.

As part of the activity, Sophia prepared a task for each of the children to write down their interests and excitements. She encouraged them to pursue these activities in their future career development.

“The children were wonderful, very curious. I was impressed that they weren’t afraid to ask questions at all, which is great because that’s how they learn new things,” Sophia shared.

We are glad that we contributed to the education and inspiration of these students with a different and exciting day, especially since this is not our first meeting and contact with the wonderful students from the village of Dinkata! Years ago, we had a donation campaign in support of the children, thanks to the initiative of their school principal. And when you are active, good things find you sooner than later!

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our world, and here at SiteGround we are at the forefront of this exciting field! For nearly a decade, we’ve been integrating and playing with AI into both our internal and client-facing systems and services. We developed our own internal AI team and a platform to tackle industry challenges and integrate AI features into our products. Earlier this year our Director of Product and Technology at SiteGround, Daniel Kanchev, delivered a keynote at the Digitalk event to share our long-term journey with AI – how our attitude, treatment and adoption of AI tech developed and evolved through the years. 

He opened his talk with some interesting data showing that only 10% (in rare cases 20%) of companies embrace the usage of AI internally, organize regular internal AI training and have a vision on how to use AI in the years to come. 

For us, AI is a tool, not a replacement. That’s why we believe that our example at SiteGround can be a valuable roadmap on how to view and approach AI tech in any field, team, or company – big or small, and even on an individual level. Our AI Team Lead Yasen Kiprov shares more about our AI team’s work and the impact it has on our company and our customers.

Why did SiteGround decide to form an AI team?

In 2016 the initial goal was to leverage AI-powered chatbots to optimize our customer support. As attracting new clients meant expanding the support team, creating an AI assistant to handle basic queries became a strategic decision.

“Developing an effective dialogue system was challenging,” says Yasen. “There were no working solutions at the time, so we had to experiment based mainly on existing research.” This pioneering spirit is evident in how the team collaborated with leading scientists and even published their findings in scientific journals. As another example: “It was also fun to see a description of a “question-answering” system that has worked for us for years, published in a top scientific journal by a group of scientists who came to our conclusions as well.”

From Chatbots to Enterprise-Level AI Solutions

The SiteGround AI team’s work has grown significantly since its inception. One crucial project involved creating a machine translation system that allows our  support team to communicate with clients in their native languages. This project required adapting the system to handle our specific technical jargon while using data in English only – a challenge the AI team successfully overcame in 2019 with cutting edge alignment techniques.

Yasen highlights how this project has benefited SiteGround: “Our support teams could now seamlessly interact with customers in various regions (we seamlessly expanded to German and French markets as a result), fostering a more positive customer experience.”

Look at SiteGround’s Cutting-Edge AI Project

Currently, Yasen and our AI team are focused on developing entirely AI-powered products. This includes creating proof-of-concepts and integrating AI functionalities into existing SiteGround products. Еxploring how generative AI can be used to generate personalized texts, images, and galleries for our customers in order to improve email marketing campaigns as well as create more engaging and attractive online stores.

One exciting project to underline here is an anti-spam system that combines traditional email filtering techniques with content analysis and personalization. This allows users to mark emails as spam, helping the system learn and adapt to individual needs.

“Here, the main challenges for us were related to the scale and the required resources, since the system has to support on the one hand personalization for millions of customers, and on the other hand, it has to process millions of letters daily”,  Yasen explained. 

As a result, since the implementation of our AI-powered Spam filtering system in 2023, SiteGround clients have received much less spam. On a daily basis, it efficiently stops over 11.6 Million unsolicited messages from even reaching our clients’ mailboxes, and more than 600,000 are marked as Spam, keeping our clients’ inboxes safer and tidier.

Our Email Marketing AI Writer Assistant is another project we could spotlight here. Forget struggling to write email campaigns! Our Email Marketing with AI Writer lets customers create effective messages in no time. This powerful tool helps develop winning email marketing strategies to skyrocket conversions and keep subscribers hooked. 

Building an AI Community

At SiteGround the passion about AI extends beyond our daily job. 

We prioritize fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.One way we achieve this on a company level is through our regular internal AI meetups.These sessions cater to all departments, not just programmers. They combine informative lectures with interactive discussions, aiming to equip everyone with a solid understanding of AI’s potential. It’s been fascinating to see how different teams leverage AI tools; for example, even our legal department utilizes ChatGPT for specific tasks. 

These regular training sessions not only elevate employee knowledge but also encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration. Our “bottom-up” culture empowers everyone to contribute ideas and suggestions, further fueling innovation. Ultimately, these initiatives ensure our employees feel motivated and equipped to harness the power of AI in their daily work.

But to extend this beyond our team, together with our “Lead by Example” Foundation we are also collaborating to introduce AI to teachers through a series of practical workshops for teachers. The #AI in the Classroom workshops have already reached nearly 100 teachers in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Stara Zagora equipping them with the knowledge and skills to integrate AI into their teaching practices. 

Recognizing the transformative potential of AI in education, we are also making a substantial investment in the first Bulgarian Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Technologies (INSAIT). Donating up to 6 Мillion EUR over five years to cover the salaries of world-class scientists recruited by the institute to teach and develop the tech ecosystem in our home country. This investment aims to foster a new generation of Bulgarian AI experts and equip students with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age.

“The key is for education to adapt,” says Yasen. “Instead of focusing on specific skills, education should equip individuals with the ability to learn and adapt throughout their careers.”

The education landscape is undergoing a significant shift as artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a powerful tool for enhancing learning. This transformation transcends geographical borders, impacting educators and students worldwide. That is why we believe it is important to empower students and educators to create engaging and personalized learning experiences, preparing themselves for success in the digital age. 

Supporting Students and Schools

Recognizing the importance of continuous learning, we engaged no other than our very own AI team lead, Yasen Kiprov, to deliver the first of a series of inspiring lectures to a group of 7th graders. He discussed a wide range of topics, including the diverse applications of AI in various spheres of life. He shared personal experiences from his professional journey and emphasized the importance of continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies. He also gave valuable advice on students’ career development, highlighting the importance of developing qualities such as curiosity and engagement. At the end of his presentation, he encouraged the students to use the opportunities that digital technologies offer to be successful and prepared for the challenges of the future, and included a few practical AI tools which they can use for educational purposes. 

Train the trainer 

Together with our “Lead by Example” Foundation we are also collaborating to introduce AI to classrooms through a series of practical workshops for teachers. The #AI in the Classroom workshops have already reached nearly 100 teachers in Sofia, Plovdiv, and Stara Zagora equipping them with the knowledge and skills to integrate AI into their teaching practices. 

Research shows that only 1/3 of teachers in Bulgaria are familiar with the opportunities that AI offers them in terms of modern teaching methods. The majority of them are still too skeptical and not well-informed about the new technological possibilities. As many as 72% of teachers do not regularly use tools like ChatGPT or Bing Chat in their work. 41% of teachers have never used such tools.

Our training is a full-day event that provides an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge about the possibilities of artificial intelligence and their real application in the educational process. The workshops have helped teachers work with modern technological tools and apply them skilfully in their daily work with students.

Our commitment to education extends beyond teacher and children training. Тhis is part of our on-going work and support for the Teach for Bulgaria Foundation, the biggest NGO in Bulgarian aiming at transforming the education system and processes for good. Our investment for 3 years is 150,000 EUR and tоgather we started the “Model Schools” program, which has already reached over 100 schools with a focus on modernizing their management and teaching practices aimed at the academic progress and well-being of each student; and 44,000 students.

Investing in the Future of Education

Recognizing the transformative potential of AI in education, we are also making a substantial investment in the first Bulgarian Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Technologies (INSAIT). Donating up to 6 Мillion EUR over five years to cover the salaries of world-class scientists recruited by the institute to teach and develop the tech ecosystem in our home country. This investment aims to foster a new generation of Bulgarian AI experts and equip students with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age.

Our multifaceted approach to support teachers, students, and the overall development of the education sector is a sustainable way to support the community and equip future generations with essential tools for learning and development. Through our AI initiatives, financial contributions, and mentorship programs, we hope to play a pivotal role in preparing students for success in an increasingly technology-driven world. We hope our commitment to innovation and social responsibility sets an exemplary standard for even more businesses seeking to make a positive impact on their communities.

With traditionally high results, in 2023 we led the ranking for the best employer in Bulgaria, reporting the highest percentage of engagement of our team – 91%. The study is conducted by ARS Bulgaria with the exclusive partnership of the global company Kincentric.

The Kincentric Best Employer program honors the best employers in the world based on the evaluation of their employees, as reported by an independent survey. It measures the four factors empirically proven to distinguish successful companies: employee engagement, business adaptability to innovation and customer needs, top and middle management, and good people development practices. Over the past five years, 4,000 organizations worldwide have examined their HR practices using this methodology. This year’s survey includes 48 Bulgarian companies, together with a total of over 2,500 worldwide.

This is our fifth Top Employer title using this methodology. Over the years, we maintained a steady engagement rate: between 85% and 89%. The results reported in the ARS survey for 2023 testify to the consistency of our company development both in terms of employee-oriented policies and in preserving the values ​​that are passed on to new colleagues and preserving the company culture despite growth. The result of 91% obtained in 2023 shows how we managed to surpass ourselves with the engagement rate, which is leading not only for the highly competitive IT industry, but also for the country as a whole. In addition, 90% of SiteGround-ers describe the culture as encouraging growth, learning and development among their employees; 93% indicated that the company was focused on customer satisfaction, and 92% believed that management was highly engaged with people and work needs.

“The commitment of our team proves that our constant efforts to create a motivating and inclusive work environment, good conditions for work-life balance and a responsible attitude not only to the people of SiteGround, but also to the society, are also key to our success as business”, commented Valentina Kozhouharova, SiteGround’s HR Manager.

“We congratulate SiteGround for their certification as the best employer in Bulgaria,” said Rumyana Boseva, CEO of ARS Bulgaria, Kincentric’s exclusive partner for Bulgaria. “The Kincentric methodology celebrates organizations’ outstanding achievements in creating a good work environment, positive culture and sustainable business results. SiteGround stands out from the rest with its strong employee and senior management commitment and talent developing focus.”

With three offices in Sofia, Plovdiv and Stara Zagora and a team of over 500 people we  are one of the leading and preferred employers in the country. What distinguished us is the investment and development of the team both in the direction of professional competences and as practices for the good physical and emotional health of people so that they can develop their full potential. We also offer numerous benefits, including reduced working hours on Fridays, its own restaurant and barista, its own gym, additional health insurance, annual medical check-ups, a psychological support program, massages, sports cards, a unique office environment, various traditional initiatives in supporting the physical, emotional, personal and professional development of employees and their families.

Beyond providing top-notch web hosting solutions, and being one of the global leaders with a unique strategy for building innovative products and technologies, currently powering over 2.9 Million domains worldwide, SiteGround is passionate about making a positive impact on the world. In 2023, we continued to embody our CSR ethos by engaging in a diverse range of initiatives that support environmental sustainability, social welfare, and community development. 

SiteGrounders Caring for Communities

Our team has always been driven by a deep sense of giving back to the community. In 2023, we volunteered nearly 2,000 hours of our time and skills to various causes. We cleaned up, supported educational programs for children, and more. These efforts made a tangible difference in the lives of others, and we felt proud to be part of it.

SiteGround’s Generosity Extends Far and Wide

While our team members’ passion is inspiring, this attitude and dedication is taken up on a company level. In 2023, SiteGround’s leadership surpassed our expectations by donating nearly 1 Million BGN to CSR initiatives. These funds were used to support causes that align with our core values, such as environmental protection, education, and community development. We’ll briefly highlight just some of them which helped make the biggest impact on improving our society, environment and wellbeing this year:

Partnering for Innovation in Mountain Rescue

As SiteGround-ers we are always looking for innovative ways to make a difference. In 2023. To build on our past support for the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Service, we wanted to help further by donating high-tech rescue drones for search and rescue operations. This innovative technology would help improve search efficiency and rescue times, saving lives in the process. 

The specialized drones are equipped with thermal-vision cameras, an advanced zoom, and premium performance for precise search and rescue operations of mountaineers in trouble. The four devices cover the territory of the main and busiest mountain ranges in our country – southern Central Balkan, Rila, as well as south-western Pirin, Slavyanka, and Belasitsa, which are all preferred destinations for mountain tourism. Over 2023, the bold Mountain Rescue team helped more than 2,500 people and conducted nearly 170 rescue operations in the high mountain. 

We are happy to make the crucial work of mountain rescuers safer, more efficient, and convenient. If you love to spend time in the mountains, like many people on the SiteGround team, don’t miss to take a look and download on your phone our mountain safety guide that can help anyone prepare for their hike. 

Think Pink for a Worthy Cause

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October, 2023), we launched a pink-themed fundraising campaign. We teamed up with the One of 8 Foundation for a campaign that could change lives. Our campaign encourage women to book a medical check up, and all people to spread  the #ThinkPink message. For each social media share we’ve donated 10 leva to the One in 8 Foundation. Our educational post about breast cancer was shared over 1085 times on social media, exceeding both our expectations and those of the foundation, which additionally meant we donated 10 850 BGN to the One in 8 Foundation for preventive screenings and early breast cancer diagnosis. 

Hopefully, the fact that the campaign gathered so much interest and reached so many people means we have made an even bigger impact raising more awareness and inspiring preventing action.

Earth Day Bingo: A Fun Way to Give Back

To celebrate Earth Day, we organized an engaging bingo challenge. It was a unique way to encourage our colleagues to adopt eco-friendly habits and learn more about environmental conservation. The challenge was not only fun but also generated a positive buzz throughout the company. 41% of all participants completed a full line in the Earth Day Bingo challenge, 11% of the participants who went above and beyond, completed the entire Bingo card. Our hope of the internal Earth Day Bingo campaign was to achieve a meaningful impact in our colleagues’ everyday lives. But it also achieved remarkable recognition and we were awarded first prize in the category “Green internal communication campaign“ at the renowned “The greenest companies in Bulgaria” awards. 

End of Year Charity Initiative & Bazaar 

During December our people’s incredible generosity helped us raise a whopping 10 900 leva during our Christmas Charity campaign to support the Children’s House at For Our Children Foundation, creating a warm family-like environment for the kids living there. To double the impact of our employees’ kindness, SiteGround has generously matched our donations, so the final amount donated is 21 800 leva! 

Our traditional Christmas Charity Bazaar supported 5 different NGO’s and their causes, and collected nearly 10 000 leva for “Ole Male” & “With a smile for you” – mothers & friends of children with disabilities, “SPHU Plovdiv” – people with disabilities, “Workshop for souvenirs and culture” – people from vulnerable groups, “Bulgarian Society for Bird Protection” – birds andd environment protection, “Сръчковците” – family-type accommodation center in Samokov.

Our CSR efforts are not just lip service; they reflect our core values and our desire to make a positive impact on the world, becoming an example of how businesses can use resources to make a difference. 

Every year, in Europe 500,000 women receive the news that they have breast cancer. Every year, 125,000 of them sadly lose the battle with the disease. Breast cancer is the most prevalent among women worldwide, and unfortunately, 1 out of 8 women will be diagnosed in her life.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time for all of us to bring attention to the topic, encourage women to take responsibility for their health, and schedule screening exams. Join the campaign by following the three simple steps below. 🎀

Step 1: Be Informed, Book a Medical Checkup!

It’s important to be informed and know the facts about the risk factors, warning signs, and how to properly perform self-exam. The lifestyle risk factors are something that you have the power to change. Some of them are lack of physical activity, being overweight, alcohol consumption, smoking, hormonal therapy, and poor diet. On the contrary, sports, regular checkups, healthy weight, balanced diet, and breastfeeding are known to reduce the risk of cancer. 

Recognizing possible warning signs is also key as taking prompt action leads to timely diagnosis and treatment. Some of the most common symptoms are changes in color, form, discharge, alterations in the skin, pain. Don’t hesitate to seek help if you notice or feel any abnormality. Read more details and useful information here.

When found early, there’s a great chance that breast cancer can be successfully cured. That’s why it’s important to perform a monthly self-exam. Once a year, book a medical ultrasound checkup with a specialist, and if you’re over 40 years old, consider having a mammogram every two years.

Step 2: Spread the Word about #SiteGroundThinkPink

We need your help to motivate as many women as possible to be proactive and schedule screening exams regularly. Your actions have the power to show every woman that timely action is important! 

Help us spread the word by sharing the blog post with your family and friends. Share it on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram as a post or story along with the hashtag #SiteGroundThinkPink. On Instagram, we ask you to also leave a comment under our blog post about the campaign. If your social media profile is private, after sharing the post, leave us a comment, so that we can track your participation. 

Step 3: You Share, We Donate 👍

SiteGround will donate BGN10 to the One in 8 foundation for each share of the blog post with the hashtag on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. One in 8 is a key foundation in Bulgaria that provides psychological, emotional, and practical support to diagnosed women, as well as preventive checkups. 

They organize numerous activities and events to help women fighting the disease feel better, supported, and well-informed. Some of their initiatives are psychological consultations, art and yoga therapy, legal consultation, advice from a professional make-up artist, free educational resources, and more. 

Together with your help and our donation, we will support their annual program for preventive examinations and early breast cancer diagnosis. Thank you! 🩷