2 | A year in review 2022-23 - Contents
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
A message from our CEO and Chair of the Board Who we are What we do A better future Our contribution counted Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) matters Annual highlights
4 | A year in review 2022-23 - Introduction
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We remain committed to creating opportunities and changing lives across our inclusive, thriving communities. - Roy, Group CEO
01
Welcome A message from our CEO and Chair of the Board… As we take a moment to reflect on the past year, I am incredibly proud of all we have achieved through a challenging economic climate. Our innovative Group model sees profits reinvested to build new homes, improve service delivery, and support the communities who remain central to our business. Controlling the quality and cost of the materials used to build and maintain our properties provides stability during challenging times. Our purpose is to create opportunities and change lives which is achieved daily; from the provision of meaningful employment pathways to providing high-quality affordable homes. We remain committed to growing and nurturing talent, and in 2022 we were awarded the Investors in People (IIP) Platinum accreditation for the second time, an accolade achieved by only 5% of UK companies. We were also named as the highestranking UK’s Best Workplace™ in Europe, which is testament to the hard
work and commitment of each and every one of our talented colleagues. Recognising the importance of diversity in our workforce, we launched our Supported Internship programme this year, welcoming neurodiverse students into the Group in a bid to equip them with the skills and experience needed to enable them to compete effectively in the employment market. The programme paved the way to permanent and meaningful employment opportunities at the Group for its students. I hope this year in review will provide you with an insight into the outstanding contribution the Group has made to its colleagues, customers and communities as we strive to create a better future. Dr Roy Williams Group Chief Executive Officer Colin Marshall Chair of the Board
in review 2022-23 - Who Are 6 |6 A|year ANNUAL REPORT - WHO WEWe ARE
02
Who We Are We provide quality construction, property and facilities services to the public, not-for-profit and private sectors. As a thriving and growing business, we create opportunities and change the lives of our colleagues, customers and communities. Our growing commercial activities complement and support our social and not-for-profit businesses, with profits reinvested to build new homes, improve service delivery and support the communities who remain central to our Group. We presently own, manage and maintain in excess of 13,500 homes, rising annually through an active development programme.
The Group’s activities are based predominantly in the North West, and we are a significant contributor to the employment market in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Offering a broad range of employment opportunities, including apprenticeships, kickstart schemes and work placements, we proudly employ over 800 talented individuals.
8 | A year in review 2022-23 - What We Do
03
What We Do
One Vision Housin
Pine Court Housin
Sovini Property S
Commission services from
Financial support from profits
Not For Profit
Sovini Trade Supp
Sovini Homes Sovini Waste Solu Sovini Constructio Sovini Land Acqui Amianto Services Teal Scaffold
Central Services
Sovini Charities
IT Governance Policy Procurement
Finance Marketing & Com People & Learnin Performance Health & Safety Customer Empow Quality & Environ
Commercial
Pride of Sefton
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
Pride of Sefton
10 | A year in review 2022-23 - What We Do
Not-for-profit The Group’s registered providers, One Vision Housing and Pine Court Housing Association, manage over 14,000 high quality homes across the North West, including:
• Social and Affordable Rent homes • Independent Living homes • Rent to Buy homes • Shared Ownership homes • Market Rent homes • Leasehold homes We believe that our service is more than just a landlord, providing a wealth of advice and support to customers and investing in people and communities.
Sovini Commercial The commercial entities in the Group offer a range of specialist services, spanning the property and construction supply chain.
Find out more about our unique offering below:
Video
Sovini Charities The Pride of Sefton is a community focused wide beam canal boat, operated by Sovini Charities, which provides opportunities for passengers to discover Liverpool’s rich heritage by sailing through its hidden waterways.
Available for private hire, the Pride of Sefton is a unique venue for intimate events, and income generated by the boat is used to fund concessionary trips for local charitable and community groups.
12 | A year in review 2022-23 - A Better Future
04
A Better Future The Group has a clear vision, mission and set of values that are shared by all its companies. Our colleagues are expected to always uphold the Groups’ values which support our vision of creating a better future.
Our Vision:
Our Mission:
creating opportunities changing lives
Our Values:
Success We Will Be The Best
Authenticity We Do What We Say We Will Do
Passion We Love What We Do
Courage We Dare To Be Different
Enterprise We Never Stand Still
14 | A year in review 2022-23 - Our Contribution Counted
05 Our
Contribution Counted
Our Group
We reported
PRE-TAX PROFITS OF £8.55MILLION We welcomed
218 NEW COLLEAGUES to our award-winning Group
28 BUDDING NEW APPRENTICES worked towards their blossoming career The Group continues to buck the national trend on
GENDER PAY, WITH A GAP OF -6.8% IN 2022/23 in favour of female colleagues
Our netzero carbon commitment
We have achieved a reduction in our Carbon
FOOTPRINT OF 69%*
* Compared with baseline year 2010-11
reduction of fuel consumption achieved
3.89% PER VEHICLE* * Average
The Group recycled
RECYCLED 100% of its construction waste, that’s
4,500 TONNES
16 | A year in review 2022-23 - Our Contribution Counted
Our Homes
ONE VISION HOUSING INVESTED £18.27M into making improvements to 10,322 homes and
£11.8 MILLION
into developing 74 new Affordable/Social Rent homes.
SOVINI PROPERTY SERVICES SECURED A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT with Torus to help manage and maintain their 40,000 homes, as part of a framework
WORTH £1.2 BILLION In June 2022,
SOVINI TRADE SUPPLIES HIT A RECORD £2 MILLION worth of sales for the first time. The Registered Providers in the Group generated
£29.6 MILLION IN SOCIAL VALUE*
The commercial companies in the Group generated
£19.2 MILLION IN SOCIAL VALUE*
*Social value is a way of measuring the additional benefit to the wider community, over and above the service or goods delivered. We use the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) Social Value Tool Kit 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
18 | A year in review 2022-23 - Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Matters
06
Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Matters A strong ESG proposition enables us to approach initiatives strategically and proactively. As part of our commitment, we work alongside our colleagues, customers and communities to make a notable impact, as well as encouraging our supply chain and wider stakeholders to share best practice. We are proud to have been presented with the Responsible Business (Social Governance) Award by Liverpool Chamber of Commerce at the 2022 Innovation in Business Awards, recognising the positive impact of our organisation within the community.
Environmental Sustainable housing and the wellbeing of our customers and the communities they live in are directly linked. As a registered provider of social housing with over 14,000 homes, our impact is exponential, from how we build and maintain our homes, to how we support customers and colleagues in adopting an environmentally conscious approach to life.
Our net-zero carbon commitment We’re taking decisive action to tackle our carbon footprint, with our goal being to achieve net-zero status.
Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) performance
Our collaborative Group approach is designed to improve the wellbeing of our customers, colleagues and communities. To accelerate action, we’ve invested resources and funds, and will continue to do so, to deliver our net-zero carbon commitment.
By transforming our working practices, The Sovini Group’s energy use and related Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions was the equivalent of 3.04 CO2 tonnes per FTE 2022/23 and we have already reduced our carbon footprint by 69% since 2010/11.
To align with our Group’s Social and Added Value policy and through a competitive tendering process, we ensure we procure products and services from suppliers who support our net-zero carbon vision. Some examples include: Asbestos supplier (AEC)
• 10% of fleet moving to hybrid/ electric vehicles Architect services (BTP Architects)
• Delivering employee training workshops every year on building and fire safety, use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology in high-rise buildings and achieving netzero carbon in retrofit projects.
• Free customer training on addressing fuel poverty. PPE and employee uniform supplier (Logo Logo)
• An electric fleet • Compostable packaging • The recycling of old workwear
20 | A year in review 2022-23 - Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Matters Building sustainable homes In line with The Future Buildings Standard (2021), developments commissioned by The Sovini Group and delivered via Sovini Commercial will take a ‘fabric first’ approach. Through this approach we will look to maximise performance of components and materials selected during construction and aim to reduce energy consumption, including thermal efficiency and running costs.
These homes will feature environmentally efficient specifications, where possible – from low carbon heating and sustainable drainage systems to smart meters, solar panels and charging points for electric vehicles. £29.3m invested into building 157 new homes to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standard of B.
Social We strive to create thriving and inclusive communities that are safe and sustainable. Our innovative approach to social involvement helps improve the health and wellbeing of colleagues, customers and the local community, in addition to providing an economic boost and supporting our vision to create a better future.
Our community development fund The Group has a Community Development Fund available for voluntary and community groups who want to deliver projects or services that benefit customers in our communities. The fund seeks to encourage community projects that contribute to the following themes.
Creating meaningful employment opportunities Pine Court Housing Association joined forces with fellow Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) housing association Steve Biko, to empower customers into employment through their collaborative New Horizons programme.
• Health and wellbeing
The duo launched the first of its kind scheme in the Liverpool City Region with free five-week sessions to support customers in:
• Support for local veterans
• Boosting their skills and confidence
• Improved community safety
• CV building
• Community environmental initiatives
• Gaining voluntary and paid work
In 2022/23 The Sovini Group’s Community Development Fund generated £29.6m in social value (£5.1 million generated in uncertified social value). *
• placements
• Vulnerable persons
*Social value is a way of measuring the additional benefit to the wider community, over and above the service or goods delivered. We use the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) social value toolkit to independently certify the impact our services and activities have on the local community.
• One-to-one employment advice
22 | A year in review 2022-23 - Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Matters 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 Sefton the 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.
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:
LGBTQI+ Charter Mark.
• We are an accredited Mindful Employer, recognising our commitment to better mental health at work.
• We are proud to be a 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.
• We have developed policies and practices that support diverse groups of people working together.
• We have an established an
• We have signed up to the Navajo
Watch the video below to hear what inclusion means to colleagues from across the Group:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group and Forum.
Video
24 | A year in review 2022-23 - Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Matters
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 Brunswick Youth and Community Centre. The Group’s work with Liverpool Veterans HQ and Veterans in Sefton 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.
Gender pay equality A recent report revealed that salaries of female members of the Group compare favourably with their male colleagues. The 2022/23 analysis revealed a mean gender pay gap of -6.8% in favour of women. The Group’s mission in creating opportunities and changing lives is supported through the businesses investment in establishing and retaining an equal, diverse and inclusive workplace for all to thrive in.
Governance Governance is the internal system of practices, controls and procedures the Group have adopted in order to measure our ESG impact. It supports us in making effective decisions, complying with the law, and meeting the needs of external stakeholders. Effective governance is exceptionally important in underpinning the work that we do. It enables us to manage risk effectively and take informed decisions based on evidence. We have been working hard to embed a culture of good governance by practicing environmental and social accountability and transparency at all levels of our organisation. Our organisational structure allows leadership to instil a culture which uses core values of social responsibility when making business decisions to enable us to grow responsibly and sustainably.
Remaining transparent We ensure our stakeholders receive clear, accessible, accurate and timely information on issues that matter to them.
Being accountable We ensure our stakeholders scrutinise and hold us to account for decisions which affect them.
Empowering engagement We empower our stakeholders to share their views to help us shape our Group and make informed decisions.
26 | A year in review 2022-23 - Annual Highlights
07 Annual
Highlights Investing in the future
In 2022 we were awarded Patron Status by Elevate EBP for delivering quality careers support to young people from the Liverpool City Region. Elevate EBP connect young people with educational establishments, businesses, and professionals to nurture their talents which in turn will improve social mobility, support the local economy and create a region of opportunity. Patron Status is awarded to organisations across the region who play a valued role in raising aspirations, informing career guidance and preparing the workforce of the future. Gill Ditchburn, Chief Executive Officer at Elevate EBP said “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to award The Sovini Group with our Patron Logo. As a Corporate Sponsor, The Sovini Group always go above and beyond in supporting Elevate EBP and our mission to Transform Lives and Create Growth and should be incredibly proud of their achievements. They have invested so much of their time into the next generation of talent, and we look forward to continuing our work with them in 2023.”
28 | A year in review 2022-23 - Annual Highlights
Creating opportunities and changing lives
Achieving customer excellence
We are committed to creating opportunities and changing the lives of our colleagues, customers, and the communities in which we work.
We successfully retained the Customer Service Excellence accreditation, thanks to our Group partners One Vision Housing, Pine Court Housing Association and Sovini Property Services.
In March 2023 we launched our Supported Internship programme, in collaboration with Liverpool City Council. Four neurodiverse students from across the Liverpool City Region enrolled on the programme, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the construction industry alongside commercial partners Sovini Property Services, Teal Scaffold, Sovini Trade Supplies and Sovini Construction. 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.”
For an organisation to be recognised as achieving Customer Service Excellence they must be successfully assessed against five criteria: Customer Insight, Culture of Organisation, Information and Access, Delivery and Timeliness and Quality of Service. Assessors commented that; “The Sovini Group are more determined than ever to prove their quality of service through involving customers, partners and all staff to ensure quality service is provided to all.”
Our trophy cabinet…
How we stack up financially…
As a Group, 2022/23 was a successful year with companies from across the organisation being recognised for prestigious national and local awards. These awards include:
Our turnover for 2022/23 was £92m, representing an increase of more than 9% on the previous year. The commercial companies within the Group continued to increase their turnover and shareholder value, securing new external contracts and repeat business. As a result, the Group recorded a pre-tax profit of £8.6m.
30 | A year in review 2022-23 - Get in Touch
Get in Touch sovini.co.uk info@sovini.co.uk
@sovinigroup The Sovini Group Sovini Group
The information inside this report was correct at time of publication. For the most up-to-date information, please visit Sovini.co.uk.
08/23
Certificate Number 2771 ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 27701
sovini.co.uk info@sovini.co.uk 03337 331 200