EDI Annual Report

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

nnual Report

01 Creating Opportunities nd Changing Lives

Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we proudly promote a positive culture of valuing and celebrating diversity, accepting and including people regardless of their personal characteristics or circumstances. Whoever you are, you can expect to be treated fairly, with respect and free from discrimination.

Throughout our organisation we ensure the correct working practices, culture and behaviours are in place to provide a supportive environment for all our stakeholders to thrive in.

This report highlights the Group’s proactive approach to equality, diversity and inclusion during 2023.

Championing Change

Our Diversity Forum is a thriving community, full of like-minded colleagues with a collective ambition of celebrating diversity, supporting the Diversity Steering Group to set the strategic direction for equality and diversity in line with the organisation’s values.

We currently have Diversity Champions from across the Group, whose role is to promote and improve diversity at The Sovini Group, fostering an environment where every individual, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and empowered.

To champion change for diversity and inclusion is to recognise the richness that diversity brings and to strive for a world where everyone can thrive authentically, free from discrimination and oppression.

03 n Award-Winning Approach To Diversity And Inclusion

In May 2023, The Sovini Group was proudly presented with the ‘Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion’ accolade at the Northern Housing Awards.

The awards showcase the very best of UK housing and organisations that are delivering high-quality homes and services, sharing innovative and exceptional work that is transforming people’s lives.

Judges commented that “The Sovini Group appear to be leading the way in a sector that has lagged behind for too long, creating a culture of change through highlighting events and tacking previously taboo subjects.”

Inclusion is ingrained in the culture of the organisation, and everyone understands that they have a role to play, supporting our vision to create a better future for customers, colleagues and communities.

“We are delighted to have been recognised as a leader in our sector for creating a diverse and inclusive culture. We are incredibly proud of our rich heritage and believe our workforce should be representative of the communities we serve. We are passionate about promoting a culture that celebrates diversity, where all colleagues can truly be themselves.”

- Roy Williams, The Sovini Group CEO

04 Innovation In Education

By creating meaningful employment opportunities, we ensure that the workforce of tomorrow are able to fulfil their purpose.

We proudly launched our pre-internship programme in 2023, welcoming four neurodiverse students into the Group.

The initiative, which was delivered in collaboration with Liverpool City Council, was designed to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to overcome the barriers they face when seeking employment.

Following successful completion of the pre-internship, two neurodivergent individuals were offered a place on a Supported Internship programme which aims to support them to secure an apprenticeship at the end of the internship.

Chloe Foran, SEND Employment Support Officer at Liverpool City Council said:

“Only 4.8% of people in England and 4.1% of people in the Northwest with a learning disability and/or autism who are known to local authorities go on to secure paid employment, compared to 80% of their peers. The supported internship placements created by The Sovini Group are such a fantastic chance for young people to gain meaningful hands-on practical experience within the construction industry. These opportunities are so valuable and life changing for individuals with learning disabilities and/ or autism on their journey to employment.”

Our successful Supported Internship programme was proudly featured in a series of case studies by the Department for Education showcasing employers who are leading the way in creating meaningful employment opportunities for young people with SEND. Read the case study in full HERE

05 Queens Of Construction

Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction

As a leader in the sector, we recognise our responsibility to champion change, breaking down barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry and shaping the future of construction.

Chief Business Office for The Sovini Group, Anita Spencer and Electrician for Sovini Property Services, Emma Oakes proudly reached the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction list in 2023.

The Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards celebrate outstanding women who have fearlessly broken barriers, shattered glass ceilings, and made significant impacts in the construction industry.

Pathway into Construction

2023 saw the return of The Sovini Group’s coveted Pathway into Construction initiative.

The innovative programme encourages female higher education students to undertake a work placement, offering the opportunity to learn more about careers in the construction industry.

Supported by Group partners Sovini Trade Supplies, Sovini Property Services, Sovini Construction and Teal Scaffold, the pathway culminates in an interview skills and CV writing workshop with the Group’s People & Learning team to support the women in securing future employment.

Gender Pay

A 2023/24 report on gender pay revealed salaries of female members of the Group compare favourably with their male colleagues, bucking the trend for the national average.

The analysis revealed a mean gender pay gap of -3.5% in favour of women, further demonstrating our continued commitment to providing fair and equal pay and to challenging gender inequality.

06 Men’s Health Matters

The Men’s Health Forum states that in England, one man in five dies before the age of 65, and Men’s Health Week aims to give all boys and men access to the information, services and treatment they need to live healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives.

During Men’s Health Week 2023, we offered male colleagues the opportunity to receive a mini-MOT health check in a safe environment, checking cholesterol, blood pressure, pulse, BMI, and providing smoking and lifestyle advice.

Colleagues were also invited to join a Lunch and Learn session from Change, Grow, Live covering substance misuse.

07 Empowering Female Colleagues

The Group continues to buck the national trend on gender pay, with a gap of -3.5% in favour of women, and this year we took the opportunity to celebrate and support our female colleagues, championing equal opportunities and inclusion for all.

Menopause Workplace Pledge

The Sovini Group have proudly signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge, demonstrating our commitment as an employer to:

• recognise that the menopause can be an issue in the workplace and women need support

• talk openly, positively and respectfully about the menopause

• actively support and inform employees affected by the menopause

This campaign by Wellbeing of Women calls on organisations to commit to recognising that the menopause is a workplace issue, and that women need support, as well as talking respectfully and openly about the menopause, and actively supporting and informing colleagues.

World Menopause Day

On World Menopause Day 2023, colleagues of all genders from across the Group were invited to attend a Lunch and Learn session aimed at opening up the conversation about menopause.

Parental Buddy Leave programme

Parental leave is an exciting time for many people but it can also leave colleagues feeling isolated from the workplace and in 2023 we launched the Parental Buddy Leave programme.

The programme, which sees a Buddy assigned to a colleague who is on extended paternal, maternity, adoption, or shared paternal leave, aims to:

• Provide a point of contact at work for regular updates, including social events taking place.

• Encourage colleagues on leave to access monthly health and wellbeing events.

• Highlight any relevant activities in the local area e.g. baby and toddler classes.

• Provide an opportunity to build new relationships.

• Signpost to support services should these be required e.g. Employee Assistance Programme, Health Visitor, Mind

08 An Authentic Voice

Everyone has lived and everyone has life experiences. These experiences make us unique, but they can also bring us together.

Throughout 2023, we shared lived experiences with our customers and colleagues in a bid to create a community and culture that is inclusive and accepting of others.

Showcasing a broad range of topics, including Black History Month, addiction, mental health and disabilities, the lived experience case studies and workshops gave individuals a platform to share their stories in order to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding protected characteristics.

09 Culture And Communities

We strive to create a better future for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve.

Our Community Development Fund is available for voluntary and community groups who want to deliver projects or services that benefit customers in our communities.

In 2022/23, The Sovini Group generated £48.8 million in social value*

*Social value is a way of measuring the additional benefit to the wider community, over and above the services or goods delivered.

We use the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) Social Value Toolkit to independently certify the impact the services and activities of our Registered Providers have on the local community.

TOMs is a framework for delivering excellence in measuring and reporting social value, and is used to certify the impact the services and activities of our commercial companies have on the local community.

Success Through Collaboration

We work in collaboration with partner organisations across the Liverpool City Region to support our customers and local communities.

Pride in Liverpool

We are proud to be accredited by Navajo: a signifier of good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing LGBT+ individuals and communities.

Sahir House, a charitable organisation dedicated to improving sexual health education and raising awareness of HIV, benefitted from a concessionary trip onboard the Pride of Sefton ahead of Liverpool’s Pride celebrations.

Thanks to a grant from One Vision Housing’s Community Development Fund, the HIV support group enjoyed a leisure trip on the wide beam canal boat through the hidden waterways of Liverpool in a bid to help improve service users’ health and wellbeing.

In 2022/23, Sovini Construction sponsored Merseyside’s first LGBTQ+ women’s football team, Inclusion Plus Football Club.

The team, who compete in LCFA Seftonthe region’s first female only league, were established to support positive mental health and to promote inclusion across the local LGBTQ+ community; creating a safe space on and off the football pitch.

Supporting the Armed Forces Community

The Group has a long-standing commitment to the Armed Forces community. We continually work in close partnership with local organisations such as Liverpool Veterans HQ and Veterans in Sefton, which has led to over a hundred local veterans being rehomed and, in many cases, saved from homelessness

As part of the rehoming process, the veterans are offered goods to help them furnish their new home and there is ongoing tenancy support for vulnerable veterans.

We also proudly offer a volunteer placement programme, which supports veterans with their transition from the Armed Forces into employment within civilian life. Some of those who took part in the programme have secured employment within the Group.

As a result of our ongoing commitment and support of the Armed Forces community, we are the proud recipients of the Covenant Gold Award which shows our commitment to supporting those who make huge sacrifices on our behalf, ensuring they receive the recognition and support they deserve.

An inclusive workplace

The Group is fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We promote a positive culture of valuing and celebrating diversity and accepting and including people regardless of their personal characteristics or circumstances.

Whoever you are, you can expect to be treated fairly, with respect and free from discrimination. Our work environment is welcoming, friendly and a place for all our colleagues to thrive in.

Here is an overview of how we maintain our inclusive culture:

• We advocate for policies and practices that promote fairness and equal opportunities.

• We have an established Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group and Forum.

• We have signed up to the Navajo LGBTQI+ Charter Mark.

• We are an accredited Mindful Employer, recognising our commitment to better mental health at work.

• We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer.

• We deliver bespoke diversity training courses to increase awareness.

• Colleagues across the organisation are encouraged to display their chosen pronouns on emails and in our employee app.

• The provision of a health and wellbeing programme for all colleagues.

Watch the video below to hear what inclusion means to colleagues from across the Group:

Video

10 Our Vision For Equality, Diversity And Inclusion

The Group’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for 2022 – 2027 outlines key areas for improvement.

With the support of the Diversity Forum, Steering Group and partner organisations such as Navajo, The Sovini Group will work towards achieving the following:

Customer Service Delivery

Here is what we want to achieve:

• Provide support to vulnerable customers, helping them to live independent lives and play an active part in their communities

• Be recognised as a fair and equitable service provider and attract new customers from diverse backgrounds

• Provide services that are easily accessible to all

• Work in partnership with representative groups and advocacy services to share best practice, ensuring our services exceed legal and regulatory requirements

• Utilise our Customer Voice Group to ensure clear lines of influence for customers, taking lived experiences of equality issues into consideration

Our role as an employer

Here is what we want to achieve:

• Attract and retain the best people and increase the diversity of the workforce at all levels, reflecting the demographic of the communities in which we operate

• Continue to narrow the gender pay gap and champion a ‘levelling up agenda’

• Measure and increase employee’s perception of The Sovini Group as a fair and equitable employer

• External verification of our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace culture through awards and accreditation

Role as Business Entities

Here is what we want to achieve:

• Ensure strategic direction of The Sovini Group is informed by diverse opinion and lived experience

• Increase influence at strategic forums to champion the equality agenda and support national campaigns

• Be a partner of choice for like-minded companies, based on our strong support for equality, diversity and inclusion in supply chain management

11 Our Commitment To Equality, Diversity And Inclusion

Our commitment to celebrating diversity is supported by the accreditations and charter marks we have been awarded, including:

Mindful Employer

The Mindful Employer charter demonstrates an organisation’s commitment to better mental health at work.

Navajo Charter Mark

In 2023, The Sovini Group proudly received the Navajo accreditation once again: a quality mark sponsored by InTrust Merseyside and supported by the LGBTQ+ community networks.

Disability Confident Employer

The Sovini Group is a Disability Confident Employer, recognised for our commitment to inclusive recruitment practices and changing behaviours and cultures in the workplace.

Fair Employment Charter

A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

That is what the Fair Employment Charter is all about: making the Liverpool City Region the fairest, most equitable place in the country to work or run a business in.

It is about shining a light on and promoting good employers who do the right things: paying the Real Living Wage, clamping down on the insecure work or zero hours contracts, offering a real seat at the table to trade unions and giving staff opportunities to progress and thrive.

Menopause Workplace Pledge

The Menopause Workplace Pledge encourages employers to become supportive and understanding of colleagues affected by menopause.

Caring Business Charter

The Caring Business Charter from Sefton Council represents a commitment from local business and partners to offer high quality opportunities to young people who have experience of the care system.

Investors in People (Platinum)

Investors in People assess corporations across 66 countries, and for every 50,000 organisations assessed, only a few achieve Platinum status, the highest level awarded by the workplace accreditation company.

The accolade means that both employees and leaders are dedicated to continuous improvement when it comes to workplace culture.

Get in Touch

@sovinigroup The Sovini Group Sovini Group @sovinigroup

sovini.co.uk

info@sovini.co.uk

The information inside this report was correct at time of publication. For the most up-to-date information, please visit Sovini.co.uk