The Sovini Group 2023/24 ESG Report

Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24

2 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Contents

CONTENTS 01 02 03 04 05 06

Foreword Group Overview How We Measure Up Environmental Social Governance

4 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Foreword

01

FOREWORD A message from our Chief Executive Officer, Dr Roy Williams: At The Sovini Group, our customers, colleagues and the communities we serve are at the heart of everything we do.

We’re a purpose-driven organisation with the mission of creating opportunities and changing lives. Whether it’s through creating meaningful employment opportunities or providing high-quality, affordable housing, we succeed in our mission daily.

This ESG report for 2023/24 serves as a testament to our commitment to building a better future, showcasing our contributions to society, the economy and the environment whilst reflecting on the journey we’ve embarked on over the last year.

Analysing our social value impacts allows us to critically assess the progress we have made in achieving our vision and mission, in addition to our strategic objectives.

A robust ESG proposition empowers our award-winning Group to tackle initiatives, such as net-zero carbon, fuel poverty and healthier homes, both strategically and proactively.

As part of our ongoing commitment, we work in collaboration with our colleagues, customers and communities to drive meaningful change, whilst encouraging our supply chain and wider stakeholders to share best practice.

We are honoured to have been awarded ‘Highest Commended CSR/ESG Initiative’ at the CIPD People Management Awards, highlighting the positive impact our organisation has on the communities we serve.

Looking to the future, we aim to continue to provide an excellent service to our customers, striving to achieve higher performance targets than ever before. Our properties will continue to receive upgrades through our retrofit scheme and ongoing investments, to improve energy efficiency and offset carbon emissions. We have been successful in obtaining funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, and look forward to continuing to improve our properties for the better.

I look forward to updating you further on our progress as we continue to strive for a better future.

6 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Group Overview

02 GROUP

OVERVIEW

We’re a purpose-driven organisation that provides high quality construction, property and facilities services to the public, not-forprofit and private sectors, with the only end-to-end integrated supply chain in the sector.

The thriving activities of our commercial Group partners complement and support our social and not-for-profit businesses, with profits reinvested to build new homes, enhance service delivery and support the communities that remain central to our business.

At present, we own, manage and maintain in excess of 14,000 homes, a figure that rises annually through our active development programme.

The Sovini Group plays a pivotal role in driving the social and economic development of the North West, and future growth of the region.

Our Unique Group Model Outlined:

Commission services from

Financial support from profits

Not For Profit

Central Services

Sovini Charities

Commercial

One Vision Housing Pine Court Housing Association

Sovini Property Services Sovini Trade Supplies Sovini Construction Sovini Waste Teal Scaffold Amianto Services Sovini Land Acquisition

IT Governance Policy Procurement Finance Marketing & Communications People & Learning Performance Health & safety Customer Empowerment Quality & Environmental

Sovini Charities

In 2023, we launched the Discover our Purpose campaign, celebrating the positive impact we make as we strive to create a better future for our customers, colleagues and the communities we proudly serve.

Our People Highlighting the contribution of our talented colleagues who live and breathe our core values, and are central to the success of our business.

Our Communities Discovering how we create thriving, inclusive communities that celebrate culture and heritage.

Our Impact Measuring the social and environmental impact we have as a responsible, ethical business.

Our Partnerships Promoting the meaningful partnerships we have that support us to create opportunities and change lives for individuals and organisations across the North West.

Highest Commended CRS/ESG Initiative We were delighted to have been presented with the award for Highest Commended CSR/ ESG Initiative by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development for our ‘A Better Future: Creating Careers and Communities’ campaign.

The driving force behind this initiative was to increase opportunities for young people, upskill the current workforce, provide ESG education, implement community programmes and recruit talented, like-minded colleagues to create opportunities and change lives.

As part of this initiative, we delivered a Women in Construction pathway, sponsored an inclusive football club for women and non-binary players (the first LGBTQIA+ team in Merseyside), provided 42 traditional and non-traditional apprenticeships and established a Supported Pre-Intern programme to support those with neurodiversity into the industry.

Furthermore, colleagues across the Group completed 15,522 e-learning courses, some focused on our Net-Zero Carbon Commitment, and we implemented Purpose Training for management. Our aim was, and continues to be, to educate, inspire and enhance performance.

We are proud to have been awarded this prestigious accolade that demonstrates our commitment to creating a better future.

Sovini Charities Sovini Charities is committed to creating positive change through philanthropy to support our vision of a better future for all.

From local grassroots organisations to national initiatives, we support a wide range of charities and projects that make a positive difference. By providing funding, resources or guidance, we transform communities through our dedication to creating positive social impact.

10 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - How We Measure Up

03 HOW WE

MEASURE UP...

Our Homes

Created over £139.4M in social value

Invested £46.15M 185 new homes

into building

to EPC B standard

Invested £14M 10,000 properties in maintaining and

improving over

97.8% of customers

satisfied with overall repairs and maintenance services

95.1% of One Vision Housing customers were satisfied with our repairs service

99% of Pine Court Housing Association customers were satisfied with our repairs service

Our Group

830 talented colleagues Over

167 new employment opportunities created

85 internal promotions secured Supported 39 traditional apprentices across the Group

Our netzero carbon commitment

Group Partners Sovini Property Services and Sovini Construction

3,621 tonnes 100% was recycled/ diverted from landfill

produced

of construction waste,

of which

10 tonnes 100% was recycled/ diverted from landfill

We recycled over

of office waste,

of which

All Group Partners are registered to

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System We reduced our carbon footprint by 69% in comparison with our base-year data

12 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Environmental

04

ENVIRONMENTAL Sustainable housing and the wellbeing of our customers and the communities they reside in are directly linked. With our Registered Providers of Social Housing overseeing over 14,000 homes, we have a significant impact on the communities we serve. From building and maintaining our homes, to supporting customers and colleagues in adopting an environmentally conscious approach to life, our commitment to maintaining the highest sustainability standards remains unwavering.

Net-Zero Carbon Commitment Waste Management We are unwavering in our commitment to environmental sustainability, diverting 100% of our waste away from landfills.

Group Partner, Sovini Waste Solutions, provides waste management reports to customers detailing the percentage of waste recycled and diverted from landfill to provide assurance.

All Sovini Group companies are registered to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

Newly appointed Energy and Sustainability Team As part of our ongoing commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions, we have a dedicated Energy and Sustainability team.

This improvement will save our customers on average £215 per year on energy bills, making their homes more comfortable and efficient.

In 2023/24, 90.16% of One Vision Housing properties and 94.84% of Pine Court Housing Association properties achieved a SAP score of band C or above.

Through collaboration with customers, stakeholders and partners, they plan to scale innovation, enabling us to reach our sustainability goals.

Building Sustainable New Homes One Vision Housing’s Kingfisher Park, Wrenbury, which is in development, will provide 45 new homes to the area, supporting local people onto the property ladder through Shared Ownership, Rent to Buy and Affordable Rent tenures.

In addition, One Vision Housing’s underconstruction Moorside Place development, located in the heart of Crosby village, is set provide 72 Rent to Buy apartments, as well as four commercial units. Residents will benefit from affordable rent, priced at circa 20% less than market average, with the commercial units set to provide employment opportunities to the local community.

In 2023, we saw the first release of affordable homes at our flagship Morris Meadows development, which was proudly named ‘Best Affordable Scheme’ at the Your Move Liverpool Awards. Boasting 149 properties available through Affordable

Sustainable Development Goals Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global objectives, established by the United Nations. They aim to achieve peace, prosperity and a sustainable planet.

We are dedicated to not only creating a better future for our communities, but for the world as a whole, and are proud to actively contribute to at least ten of the goals set out by the United Nations, including no poverty, good health and wellbeing and decent work and economic growth.

By addressing these critical global challenges, we work to create an equitable and sustainable future for all.

Rent, Rent to Buy and Shared Ownership schemes, the development injected new life into the Netherton community.

Built by Sovini Construction, with the support of the Group’s integrated supply chain, the construction of these homes adopted a fabric first approach that focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency, embracing renewable technologies, including electrical charging points for vehicles, to ensure our developments are fit for the future.

As part of the Group’s ambitious development framework, One Vision Housing, in partnership with Sovini Construction, aims to build 1,000 new homes over the next five years. Each development will create social value whilst integrating ESG principles, directly supporting our vision of a better future.

14 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Environmental

Procuring a Better Environment Our robust procurement procedures ensure that we actively procure services from organisations that are committed to reducing their environmental impact.

Our well-established Procurement team work with our chosen suppliers and subcontractors to encourage sustainable practices, improving the sustainability of the region in order to support our net-zero carbon commitment.

We invest in our community by sourcing local services and products where possible, with 68.7% of our external spend within the North West from 2023/24. This allows us to not only reduce our carbon footprint, but also improve the local economy.

We have dedicated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Champions throughout the Group, with a nominated PPE champion for each Group partner. This provides a streamlined process for colleagues to request PPE, ensuring it is received in a timely manner and always purchased via our approved PPE suppliers.

We aim to procure products and services from suppliers who support our ESG commitments. Examples include:

Vodafone:

• Recycling scheme of used smartphones & tablets to distribute to people in need via charity partners.

• Those that cannot be reused are

recycled, with all proceeds sent to a GB Tech Appeal fund to purchase new technology for charity partners.

Canda:

• Supply the most energy efficiency multifunctional devices in their class, with best rating for low TEC (Typical Energy Consumption).

• Control panel features eco-information

screen, reporting green metrics to end user to encourage sustainable printing.

• Environmental management system has achieved ISO1400 ProCare Shower and Bathroom:

• Utilise wooden pallets for safe transfer of goods from our supply chain to warehouses and clients, with a designated recycling partner for used pallets.

• Volunteer time for community

engagement initiatives to benefit the local communities, such as Community Clear Up days.

Repairs and Maintenance of our Award-Winning Homes In 2023/24, we invested £34.7M in maintaining and improving over 10,000 properties. The aim was to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by installing external wall insulation, new electric heating and ventilation systems and replacing windows and doors, to ensure our homes are fit for the future.

Thanks to support from Sefton Council’s Green Homes Grant via the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), five apartment blocks have benefitted from an exterior renovation this year.

Our Thackeray and Galsworthy project sought to improve carbon and energy efficiency, resulting in a reduction of energy bills. This was achieved by improving thermal insulation through new roofs, windows, doors and exterior thermal wall insulation.

“We have already seen an impact, our energy bills have gone down during the winter as our home was much warmer. It’s also been lovely and cool during the warmer weather, and we love the new rendering.” – John and Christine, One Vision Housing customers.

An Environmental Focus for our Colleagues To support our colleagues in adopting an environmentally friendly approach to life, both inside and outside of work, we invested in a Greener Living campaign.

This campaign saw our colleagues receive complimentary LED efficient lamps to reduce energy consumption and output within their homes.

In addition, our dedicated employee app OurSpace provided colleagues with a wealth of advice and guidance on how to run their household sustainably, supporting them to combat rising energy costs while reducing their carbon footprint.

We’re dedicated to supporting our colleagues with initiatives that support their health and wellbeing and assist them in combating the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

16 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

05 SOCIAL Our innovative approach to social involvement not only enhances the health and wellbeing of our communities and customers, but also stimulates economic growth and creates opportunities.

Each Group partner has dedicated Social Value Champions, who support to steer the direction of the social value activities across the Group and collaborate with each other to enhance our impact.

By actively engaging with our communities and developing our customer voice strategy, we contribute to our vision of a better future.

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

The fund seeks to encourage community projects that contribute to the following themes:

• Vulnerable persons • Health and wellbeing

In 2023/24 The Sovini Group generated over *£139.4M in social value, supporting our vision of a better future. *We use the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) social value toolkit to measure as well as independently verify and certify the social value impacts for our Registered Providers. We also use the TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) methodology to measure the social value impacts for our commercial companies.

• Support for local veterans • Improved community safety • Community environmental initiatives

Customer Voice Our Registered Providers have dedicated groups that provide customers with the opportunity to shape, influence and improve the services we deliver. One Vision Housing offer Customer Voice Group’s, whilst Pine Court Housing Association have a Customer Empowerment Panel.

• Our Tenant Scrutiny Team examined

By actively seeking the views of our customers and using their feedback to inform the decisions we make, we ensure each customer feels valued and their voices are behind heard.

• Our Brand Group helped to create a

Throughout 2023/24, One Vision Housing’s Customer Voice Group achieved the following:

• Our Service Review Group helped to improve services for customers

• Our High-rise Living and Building Safety Group helped review processes

our complaints, voids and new tenant processes

• Our Tenant Inspectors Group visited void

properties and investment work projects to provide feedback range of communications, including our annual reports and customer newsletter

We will continue to amplify the voice of our customers as we introduce Tenant Satisfaction Measures, in line with new consumer regulations set out by the Regulator of Social Housing.

18 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

Sovini’s Big Community Christmas Sovini’s Big Community Christmas saw over 10,000 people receive vital support during the festive seasons, with 32 community partners collaborating to deliver:

• 14 festive community events • 18 food, hygiene and toy packages • Support packs and heating vouchers for One Vision Housing’s vulnerable customers • Sponsorship of warm hubs • Selection boxes for a school and community centres The Group also sponsored Cash for Kid’s Mission Christmas, helping over 35,000 local families by ensuring every child woke up to a present under their tree at Christmas.

Cost-of-Living Campaign We support our customers by providing high-quality, affordable homes through a variety of schemes, such as Affordable Rent, Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy. Our social homes are on average 20% more affordable than the private rental market, for example: Location

Average private rent PCM

Our average rent PCM

% difference

No. of beds

1

2

3

1

2

3

1

2

3

St Helens

£508

£659

£810

370.21

499.47

593.69

31.37%

27.54%

30.8%

Sefton

£507

£653

£794

346.05

389.03

448.68

37.7%

50%

55.5%

South Liverpool

£686

£824

£1,047

349.53

365.92

450.72

64.9%

76.9%

79.6%

Lancashire

£551

£717

£960

384.71

489.45

584.55

35.5%

37.7%

48.6%

Wirral

£546

£671

£754

336.77

384.59

438.81

47.4%

54.26%

52.84%

*Average private rental figures are taken from Hometrack Rental Market Report As the cost-of-living continued to rise throughout 2023/24, our Financial Inclusion team worked hard to support 890 customers by providing a wealth of support, including:

• Advice on how to manage debt • Help accessing benefits they may have otherwise missed • Funding for the use of local food pantries • Support with rent payments through our Hardship Fund Furthermore, our #HereToHelp campaign provided housing customers with meaningful advice and guidance on how to reduce their bills, keep warm and access much needed support. With a digital guide and regular communications, we also supported our customers to combat the rising cost-of-living by signposting them to local and national support services.

20 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

Colleagues Employee Health and Wellbeing Our employees are at the heart of everything we do, as it has been proven that more engaged employees lead to happier customers. As such, the physical, financial, social and mental wellbeing of every colleague is of upmost important to us.

The Group’s comprehensive health & wellbeing programme provides colleagues with the opportunity to participate in a wealth of initiatives, from fitness programmes and health checks to massage treatments and social events. In 2023/24, we held 50+ health and wellbeing events for employees to connect with colleagues, in addition to a variety of fully-funded family events.

Our Health and Wellbeing Ambassador programme continues to thrive, with colleagues from each area of the business assisting to strengthen our employee offer.

In 2023, the ambassadors helped develop the employee health and wellbeing programme, and even went ‘on the go!’ to listen and engage with frontline and remote operatives, gaining their perspective on how we can improve our offer.

We are dedicated to continuous improvement when it comes to our award-winning workplace culture and will continue to implement strategies that secure a better future for our colleagues.

Apprenticeships We are passionate about investing in the workforce of the future and proudly supported over 39 traditional apprentices across the Group in a diverse range of roles.

From housing management and business administration to trade apprenticeships, we create meaningful employment

opportunities to deliver on our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to inspire and engage the minds of tomorrow as they take their first steps into the corporate world.

Gender Pay Equality A recent report revealed that the salaries of female colleagues within the Group compare favourably with their male colleagues, vastly surpassing the UK average.

The 2023/24 analysis revealed a mean gender pay gap of -3.5% in favour of women, a stark contrast to the UK average of 7.7% in favour of men.

The Group’s mission of creating opportunities and changing lives is supported through the businesses investment in establishing and retaining an equal, diverse and inclusive workplace that allows all employees to thrive.

Northern Housing Awards - Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion Colleagues from the Group were proudly presented with the ‘Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion’ accolade

by Northern Housing Awards.

The awards promote the best of UK housing organisations that deliver high-quality homes and services, sharing the innovative 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 tackling previously taboo subjects.”

Real Living Wage As a Real Living Wage employer, we ensure each employee, with the exception of our apprentices, are paid above the National Living Wage, providing salaries that are enough to live on as the cost-of-living rises year on year.

The Real Living Wage is higher than the government-selected National Living Wage, and is an independently calculated hourly

rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It is re-calculated each year and is announced by the Living Wage Foundation.

Our commitment to supporting employee wellbeing remains unwavering, and ensuring they are paid fairly is just one of the many initiatives we have at the Group to support our colleagues.

Investors in People - Platinum We once again retained Investors in People Platinum status, an accolade that highlights our dedication and commitment towards our employees.

This status demonstrates that both employees and leaders are dedicated to continuous improvement when it comes to workplace culture, specifically in relation to engagement, communication, work practices and organisational culture.

Investors in People also recognised our commitment to employee health and wellbeing with a Gold award for “We Invest in Wellbeing,” illuminating our commitment to raising the bar when it comes to people management practices.

22 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

LBGTQIA+ football team sponsorship Group partner Sovini Construction continued to sponsor Merseyside’s LGBTQIA+ football team, Inclusion Plus FC. The team was established to support positive mental health and promote inclusion across the local LGBTQIA+ community, creating a safe space on and off the pitch.

This aligns with the Group’s commitment to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for our colleagues, customers and the communities we proudly serve.

“What we’ve been able to achieve with the help and support of Sovini Construction is something special. With their support, we have helped over 40 players and hopefully more over the next few seasons.

We have also been able to create more opportunities for players of all abilities to play and to stabilise the ever-growing costs of just being able to play football.

As we prepare for our upcoming season, we’ve been able to create a brand new kit in which all our players will be comfortable and most importantly, proud to wear.”

– Jassmin, Inclusion Plus FC.

24 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

Creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace The Group is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We promote a positive culture that values and celebrates diversity, accepting and including people regardless of their personal characteristics or circumstances.

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

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

• Our Supported Internship programme

supports young people with special educational needs and disabilities to overcome the barriers they face when seeking employment. This year, two neurodiverse individuals secured placements and are undertaking three 10-week placements with the aim of securing an apprenticeship upon completion.

• We have a dedicated Equality, Diversity

and Inclusion forum that allows colleagues to share experiences, discuss best practice and updates regarding EDI, supporting us to embed inclusivity into our Group culture.

• We were proudly awarded the Navajo

Merseyside & Cheshire LGBTQIA+ Charter Mark once again, recognising our commitment to inclusivity in our workplace.

• We are an accredited Disability Confident employer, highlighting our commitment to providing equal opportunities for everyone.

• As an accredited Mindful Employer, we

invest in our colleagues to ensure better mental health at work and currently have several Mental Health Champions across the Group.

• We offer a variety of courses

surrounding diversity and inclusion, both mandatory and optional, to ensure colleagues are aware of our policies and practices.

• Colleagues are encouraged to display

their chosen pronouns on emails and in our employee app.

26 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

Communities Supporting the Armed Forces Community With a long-standing commitment to the Armed Forces community, the Group works in close partnership with local organisations, such as the Army Reserve unit 156 Regiment RLC, local veteran charities and Brunswick Youth and Community Centre.

Additionally, we proudly offer a volunteer placement programme, supporting veterans with their transition from the Armed Forces into employment within civilian life. Several of the participants have gone on to successfully secure employment within the Group.

Our work with Liverpool Veterans HQ and Veterans in Sefton has led to 100+ local veterans being rehomed, and, in many cases, saved from homelessness.

As a result of our ongoing dedication and support to the Armed Forces community, we were proudly awarded the Covenant Gold Award once again, demonstrating our commitment to supporting those who have given up so much for us, to ensure they receive the recognition and support they deserve.

As part of the rehoming process, the veterans are offered goods to furnish their new home and are provided with ongoing tenancy support for vulnerable individuals.

Celebrating Pride at The Hub Following the launch of our agile coworking space, The Hub, colleagues came together at our Pride event to celebrate and recognise the LGBTQIA+ community.

Events like these are key to our awardwinning culture that values and celebrates diversity and highlights our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace for all colleagues to thrive in, no matter their background or sexual orientation.

Learning Foundry The Learning Foundry are a local organisation, delivering training opportunities and employment programmes to support individuals and businesses to achieve their full potential.

They regularly support our talented Learning and Development team, hosting apprenticeship assessment centres to support our recruitment process.

Our partnership with the Learning Foundry directly supports our vision of a better future, as we secure the best possible talent for our exclusive apprenticeship opportunities.

Lunar New Year Pine Court Housing Association, Group Partner, was established in 1986 as a registered social landlord, at a time when there was no specific housing provision in Liverpool for Chinese and Southeast Asian residents.

Since their establishment, Pine Court has become a leading social housing provider for the Black Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, promoting cultural tolerance and cohesion across their diverse communities, which are made up of 51% BAME customers.

With the oldest Chinese community in Europe, Liverpool has a long tradition of celebrating Lunar New Year, with incredible performances that bring an explosion of culture to the city.

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Pine Court hosted celebrations for customers and local partners at Chung Hok House.

The event included delicious cuisine from a local restaurant and entertainment by the official Chinese New Year celebration performers, Hung Gar Kung Fu School.

A second round of celebrations then took place at the Group’s agile coworking space, The Hub, educating colleagues on the culture and traditions of the most important celebration of the year in Chinese culture.

Colleagues observed a traditional lion dance performance by Hung Gar Kung Fu School before enjoying a buffet of traditional cuisine. This was closely followed by an interactive dumpling tutorial from Bilingual Housing Assistant, Tracy Lin from Pine Court. A range of Chinese tea was also available to sample, whilst colleagues learnt about the traditions of the Year of the Dragon.

“It has been a privilege to showcase the rich culture of our organisation, and to come together with customers, colleagues and partners in the community to welcome in the Year of the Dragon.”

– David Brown, Operations Director at Pine Court Housing Association

Pathway into Construction The Group’s innovative Pathway into Construction initiative returned for another year, encouraging female students to consider a career in the construction industry.

The initiative culminated in an interview skills and CV writing workshop with the Group’s People and Learning Team to support them in securing future employment.

In partnership with Elevate Education Business Partnership, female students were invited to enrol on the week-long programme, offering them valuable work experience in the industry alongside Group partners Sovini Trade Supplies, Sovini Property services, Sovini Construction and Teal Scaffold.

One female student went on to secure a full-time apprenticeship with Group partner Sovini Property Services and was even presented with the Above and Beyond Call of Duty Award at The Sovini Group Apprenticeship Awards.

28 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Social

Building and Maintaining Homes for the Future Throughout 2023/24, as part of an ongoing investment programme, we invested £34.7M to improve our existing homes and £46.2M into building 185 new homes to EPC B standard, in line with our approved development programme.

With the support of our Energy and Sustainability team, we are continuously improving energy efficiency across our communities, installing zero carbon heating options to improve insulation and reduce heat loss from our One Vision Housing and Pine Court Housing Association properties.

A review of utility usage and optimisation of our solar PV and boiler systems form part of this project, transforming the properties to be Net-Zero Carbon by 2050.

Additionally, we are increasing the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculation of our properties through retrofit works and improved training for colleagues.

This continued investment fixes issues at the source, ensuring our customers benefit from a sustainable and affordable place to call home.

Supported Internship Our supported internship programme provides meaningful employment opportunities for neurodiverse student and is designed to support young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to overcome the barriers they face when seeking employment.

Four neurodiverse students from across the Liverpool City Region enrolled on our Pre-Supported Internship programme, gaining valuable work experience in the construction industry with Group partners Sovini Property Services, Teal Scaffold, Sovini Trade Supplies and Sovini Construction.

Following successful completion of the pre-supported internship programme, one individual went on to secure a place on our supported internship programme, which saw him undertake three 10-week placements with Sovini Construction and Sovini Property Services.

Ryan is 18 years old and joined The Sovini Group in September 2023 as a Supported Intern. The internship has boosted his confidence and accelerated his growth and development, impressing his job coach, manager and colleagues.

It’s extremely rewarding to make a difference to young people’s lives, and we look forward to continuing to offer opportunities that will help to kickstart their futures.

“I feel like I am a lot more confident, and I feel more independent. My reading and writing have also improved, and I get less distracted by my phone. I am a lot happier with my life, I never thought I would enjoy my work and I’m looking forward to my future in the workplace.” — Ryan

Elevate EBP Elevate Education Business Partnership is a social value organisation that nurtures the talents of young people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond, from Primary school all the way up to young adulthood.

From delivering employment workshops to providing meaningful work experience opportunities, our ongoing partnership with Elevate allows us to inspire and engage the minds of tomorrow as they embark on their first steps into the world of work.

During National Apprenticeship Week, we collaborated to deliver an Apprenticeship Showcase event, providing 130+ young people across the region with an exclusive

opportunity to explore a wealth of career opportunities. From electrical and construction to housing and HR, the guests received career advice and guidance from industry experts, including The Learning Foundry and legal-firm Brabners.

“Elevate EBP is incredibly fortunate to have The Sovini Group as a dedicated corporate partner, committed to making a positive impact in our local community. Their unwavering support, not just during National Apprenticeship Week, but throughout the year demonstrates their commitment to Transforming Lives and Creating Growth across the Liverpool City Region.” — Gill Ditchburn, CEO, Elevate EBP

Taking Root Our colleagues and customers teamed up with Taking Root, a local organisation dedicated to community development, to create a thriving community garden in Bootle.

The garden, located on Bianca Street, was previously a hot spot for fly-tipping until One Vision Housing and Taking Root took action.

Receiving support from Group members Sovini Waste Solutions, who donated a skip to remove fly-tipping, and Sovini Property Services, who donated wood chippings for use in the garden, the area was transformed into a blooming garden for the community to enjoy.

“It is wonderful to see the hard work and dedication that has brought this new community garden to life. At The Sovini Group we believe in creating a better future for the communities we serve and this project is already having a direct, positive impact on those living in Bootle. We look forward to working with Taking Root and fellow Group members to create more thriving community gardens.” – Ian Mitchell, Managing Director of Housing for One Vision Housing

The Sovini Group Charity Golf Day The Sovini Group Charity Golf Day united 80 golfers from across the housing and commercial sector, competing at Childwall Golf Club in the sold-out event.

The guests and 23 sponsors collectively raised over £12,000 for the Pride of Sefton.

The Pride of Sefton is a community-focused wide beam canal boat operated by Sovini Charities, and the proceeds from the event were used to provide concessionary trips to local charitable and community groups.

“We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen to receive this very generous donation from The Sovini Group. The funds will enable us to continue providing concessionary trips to local charitable and community groups, supporting people across the Liverpool City Region.” – Ann Owens, Pride of Sefton

Mission Christmas As part of the Group’s Discover our Purpose campaign, we proudly supported Cash for Kids’ Mission Christmas, impacting the lives of over 35,000 local families by ensuring every child wakes up to a present under the tree at Christmas.

Employees across the Group raised over £2.5k, donated toys and volunteered their time to pack parcels, with Group partners Sovini Trade Supplies and Sovini Property Services dropping off deliveries to community centres.

“We are incredibly grateful to The Sovini Group for their support, not only at Christmas, but for all they do to help those in need throughout the year. They have helped to make such a big difference through their donations and volunteer time to Mission Christmas this year, we can’t thank them enough.”

– Hayley Smallman, Senior Corporate Fundraising Executive at Cash for Kids.

32 | Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023/24 - Governance

06

GOVERNANCE

Governance encompasses the internal system of practices, controls and procedures adopted by the Group to measure our ESG impact. It facilitates strategic decision-making, legal compliance and meeting external stakeholder expectations including the Regulator of Social Housing.

Effective governance is vital in underpinning the work we do. It empowers the Group to effectively manage risks and make evidence-based decisions. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of good governance by upholding environmental and social accountability and transparency across all levels of the organisation.

Our organisational structure enables leadership to instil a culture of transparency and accountability, leveraging the core values of social responsibility when making business decisions. This enables us to grow and develop responsibly and sustainably.

The Regulator The Group proudly secured V1 and G1 regulatory gradings following the annual assessment by the Regulator of Social Housing.

G1 signifies a top rating for governance, affirming our adherence to the Regulator’s governance standards. Meanwhile, V1 is the highest rating for financial viability, highlighting our ability to navigate through a variety of challenging financial scenarios.

“This is a testament to our integrated supply chain which has enhanced financial capacity to effectively manage a wide range of adverse scenarios and to continue its provision of quality affordable homes and improved services for our customers and communities.”

– Ian Mitchell, Managing Director of Housing

Board and Trustees The Sovini Group Board is composed of partners within the Group and independent board members. Together, they are responsible for defining and achieving the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the Group. This collective effort secures the Group’s long-term viability and success.

The Group Risk and Audit Committee play a pivotal role in providing robust scrutiny, audit and risk monitoring of the board’s decisions to ensure transparency and assurance.

Guided by an independent Chair, the Committee ensures that the Group adheres to the highest standards of governance, accountability and risk management to enhance stakeholder confidence and secure the Group’s long-term sustainability.

Leading Housing Forums Our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives extends further than our commitment to our customers, communities and colleagues. We aspire to elevate the social housing sector as a whole, enacting impactful changes to secure a better future for all.

That’s why we facilitate regular forums with fellow Registered Providers of Social Housing, focusing on crucial topics, such as:

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion • Learning and Development • Health and Wellbeing Through quarterly meetings, we lead the way to a better tomorrow by exchanging best practice, engaging in significant discussions and collectively exploring the most beneficial way to progress as a united sector.

Sustainability Reporting Standards Sustainability Reporting Standards are a set of guidelines that support businesses to disclose their ESG performance. The standards are designed to improve transparency, manage risks and enhance stakeholder trust.

Our Registered Providers of Social Housing report to the Risk and Audit Committee and Boards using this criteria. Additionally, other Group partners also meet similar sustainability standards, such as Modern Slavery compliance, Real Living Wage and Social Value deliverables.

sovini.co.uk info@sovini.co.uk 03337 331 200