

A Year in Review - 23/24
In 2023/24 we spotlighted our people, communities, impact and partnerships.
Throughout the year we proudly informed our customers, communities and colleagues through the Discover our Purpose campaign. Discover our Purpose highlighted four key themes which drive our collaborative Group vision of a better future.
Through the insightful sharing of the incredible contributions made by our people, noting the impact we make, the communities we work in and the partnerships we hold, we recognised the collaborative efforts of the Group. Together we celebrated our shared purpose.
We showcased how our housing customers have been supported with meaningful advice and guidance through the continued cost-ofliving crisis, which included our collaborative initiative with our Group partners to deliver Sovini’s Big Community Christmas, supporting over 10,000 local people.
Furthermore, we highlighted valued customers through our Customer Voice and celebrated the individual contribution of those across our communities; including Martin Chung of Pine Court Housing Association, as he was proudly named Tenant of the Year at the Northern Housing Awards.
Our stakeholders learnt of our Customer Service Excellence (CSE) accreditation being successfully retained through
the Group, with our customers being at the heart of everything we do!
For our people, we have focused on physical, financial, mental and social health and wellbeing, to support our talented colleagues through these unprecedented times.
We have supported our colleagues, customers and communities throughout economic uncertainty, providing meaningful employment opportunities and a robust supply-chain, resulting in the provision of quality and affordable housing.
In 2023/24, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis continued to impact our customers, colleagues and partners. We were proud to face adversity by ethically supporting our communities and local businesses and continuing our commitment to fulfilling the UK’s housing demand, providing high-performing services for the benefit of our customers.
We have remained true to our vision of a better future, adding 162 new homes to our existing 14,000 properties and creating 167 new employment opportunities.
Additionally, we welcomed the recommendations outlined in the independent Better Social Housing Review to further drive the quality of our homes.
The recommendations informed our improvement actions plan which continues to be implemented, driving performance and tenant and customer satisfaction.
Furthermore, the demand on our repairs and maintenance service peaked, with a 6.25% increase in jobs completed from the previous financial year. These include a wide range of works from reinvestment and fire safety, to responsive and decarbonisation as part of our net-zero carbon commitment.
Our Sovini Commercial companies continued to thrive, delivering exemplary services to our customers. In 2023/24 we generated £95.22M turnover, with £56.7M delivered in social value, creating opportunities and changing lives for the communities we so proudly serve.
We look forward to another successful year for The Sovini Group.
Colin Marshall Chair of the Board
Dr Roy Williams Chief Executive Officer and Executive Board Member
The Sovini Group is a purpose-driven business that provides high quality construction, property and facilities services to the public, not-for-profit and private sectors, with the UK’s largest integrated sector supply chain.
Our mission is to create opportunities and change lives through meaningful employment opportunities, whilst providing high-quality and affordable housing and services.
We presently own, manage and maintain in excess of 14,000 homes, rising annually through an active development programme. With over 800 colleagues, who are centric to the success of our business, we are a key contributor to the social and economic development and future growth of the North West and beyond.
The Group’s registered providers, One Vision Housing and Pine Court Housing Association, manage over 14,000 high quality homes across the North West, with tenures such as:
• Social and Affordable Rent
• Independent Living
• Rent to Buy
Our growing commercial activities complement and support One Vision Housing and Pine Court Housing Association, with profits reinvested to build new homes, improve service delivery and support the communities who remain central to the Group.
Sovini Commercial is home to Sovini
Sovini Charities is committed to creating positive change through philanthropy to support our vision of a better future.
From local grassroots organisations to national initiatives, we support a wide array of charities and projects that make a difference. By providing funding, resources or guidance, we transform
• Shared Ownership
• Market Rent
• Leasehold
Our service is beyond that of just a landlord, we provide our customers with inclusive communities to thrive within, and opportunities to change lives.
Construction, Sovini Property Services, Sovini Trade Supplies, Sovini Waste Solutions, Amianto Services, Teal Scaffold and Sovini Land Acquisition.
Together, Sovini Commercial collaboratively provide services across the Group, providing enhanced performance, transparency and customer satisfaction.
communities through our dedication to creating positive social impact.
In 2023/24, Sovini Charities contributed £43,514 to a wealth of charities, organisations and initiatives, including Cash for Kids Mission Christmas and the Pride of Sefton.
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:
Our Values:
We Will Be The Best Authenticity
We Do What We Say We Will Do
We Love What We Do Courage
We Dare To Be Different Enterprise
We Never Stand Still
Our Group
Over 830 talented colleagues
167 new employment opportunities created 85 internal promotions secured
77 colleagues studying on traditional and non-traditional apprenticeships
Retained Investors in People Platinum status, achieved by only 5% of companies nationally -3.5% mean gender pay gap in favour of women
Welcomed neurodiverse students onto our Supported Internship programme
Our NetZero Carbon Commitment
Group Partners Sovini Property Services and Sovini Construction produced 3,621 tonnes of construction waste, of which 100% was recycled/ diverted from landfill
76% of our external spend is within the Northwest, reducing our carbon footprint
Reduced our carbon dioxide by 2,300 tonnes during the build process of Conway Point.
890 One Vision Housing customers were provided help with Financial Inclusion Support Our Partnerships
Sponsored Cash for Kid’s Mission Christmas, supporting over 500,000 families across the UK
Raised £12,000 for the Pride of Sefton from the return of our charitable golf day
Supported 10,000 people through Sovini’s Big Community Christmas
Our Homes
Invested £46.15M into building
185 new homes to EPC B standard
Invested £14M in maintaining and improving homes
66 homes saw their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating improve from D to C, saving residents money on energy bills and making their homes more comfortable and efficient.
Achieved 92.8% customer satisfaction for One Vision Housing
Achieved 99.3% customer satisfaction for Pine Court Housing Association.
Generated £139.4m social value
100% of our homes meet the government’s decent homes standard as we continue to invest in our properties
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 Commercial Companies
An Environmental Impact of £823K
with practices shaped by our Net Zero Carbon commitment
A Social Impact of £14.59M
including local employment, training and educational commitments
An Economic Impact of £41.3M
established through our local supply chain and workforce to provide goods and services
A Charitable Impact of £42.56K
including volunteering, community events and the donation of labour and services
This collaborative impact has created overall, supporting our vision of a better future
£56.78M in social value
**These outcomes are based on the information submitted to the national TOMs framework, using their measurements and guidelines.
At The Sovini Group, we believe that every single colleague plays a vital part in delivering our overall mission of creating opportunities and changing lives.
By incorporating our values of success, passion, authenticity, courage and enterprise into their daily activities, they create a better future for our customers and the communities we so proudly serve.
To support our colleagues in adopting an environmentally friendly approach to life, we invested in a Greener Living campaign. As part of this, colleagues received complimentary LED efficient lamps to reduce energy consumption and output within their homes.
With over 830 colleagues throughout the Group, it’s important to ensure our workplace culture supports all to thrive and feel empowered to fulfil their purpose.
Furthermore, our dedicated employee app OurSpace regularly updated colleagues with advice and guidance on running a household sustainably, supporting them to combat rising energy costs whilst reducing their carbon footprint.
We were proud to have been awarded ‘Highest Commended Environmental, Social and Governance Initiative’ by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development following the launch of our ‘A Better Future: Creating Careers and Communities’ campaign.
The aim of this campaign was to increase opportunities for young people, upskill our current workforce, provide ESG education, implement community programmes and recruit talented, like-minded colleagues to join us in our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives.
As part of this initiative, we delivered a Woman in Construction pathway programme and continue to sponsor an all-female football team, the first LGBTQIA+ team
Our 2023/24 gender pay gap analysis revealed that the salaries of female colleagues within the Group compares favourably with their male colleagues.
The analysis confirmed 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.
in Merseyside for the next three years. In addition, 77 colleagues studied towards qualifications through traditional and non-traditional apprenticeships. We also launched a Supported Internship programme to support individuals with SEND (special educational needs and disability) into the industry.
Moreover, 15,522 e-Learning courses were accessed by our colleagues, including sessions on our Net-Zero Carbon Commitment, with ‘purpose training’ implemented for management, to inspire, enhance performance and attract new talent.
That’s why throughout 2023/24, we developed and delivered a range of initiatives and events to reward, recognise and celebrate the core of our organisation: our people.
This figure demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing fair and equal pay for all, no matter their gender or background. We will continue to champion change and challenge gender inequality.
Our dynamic workplace culture received praise at the prestigious Northern Housing Awards as we took home the accolade for ‘Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion.’
The awards promote the best of UK housing and organisations that deliver high-quality homes and services, rewarding the work that is transforming people’s lives.
Judges commented:
“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.”
For the fifth consecutive year, we were delighted to have retained Platinum status by Investors in People.
This accreditation demonstrates that both employees and leaders are dedicated to continuous improvement, specifically in relation to employee engagement, communication, work practices and organisational culture.
In addition, Investors in People recognised our commitment to employee health and wellbeing with a Gold award for ‘We invest in Wellbeing,’ showcasing our commitment to raising the bar when it comes to people management practices.
Employee wellbeing is of paramount importance to the Group. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme that encompasses the physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing of our colleagues.
The programme allows employees to participate in a wealth of initiatives, from fitness programmes and health checks to massage treatments and social events.
With a team of dedicated Health and Wellbeing ambassadors from each business area, we listen and engage with colleagues to ensure the programme has something for everyone to enjoy, no matter their background or interests.
The reach of our ambassadors increased throughout 2023/24 as they went ‘On the Go!’ to engage with frontline and remote operatives, gaining their perspective on how we can improve our offer.
We are committed to continuous improvement in relation to our awardwinning workplace culture, and look forward to continuing to implement strategies that secure a better future for our colleagues in 2024/25 and beyond.
In collaboration with Liverpool City Council, our pioneering Supported Internship programme launched in September 2023.
The programme aims to provide young people with SEND with meaningful work experience, supporting them to secure long-term employment in the future by breaking down the barriers they face when seeking employment.
Following successful completion of our pre-supported internship, Ryan secured a place on the transformative programme. His impact on the Group has been significant, impressing his colleagues and supervisors who have noted how he has
enhanced their awareness of the challenges neurodiverse people face in the workplace.
The internship has boosted his confidence and accelerated his growth and development, providing him with a wealth of experience to ensure he’s on the right path for a better future.
“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, Supported Intern.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) remains unwavering. We promote a positive workplace culture that values and celebrates diversity, accepting and including people regardless of their personal characteristics or circumstances.
Whoever you are, no matter your background, at the Group you will be treated fairly, with respect and free from discrimination. Our work environment is friendly, welcoming and a place where all can thrive.
Here is an overview of how we maintain our inclusive culture:
• Our dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion forum allows colleagues to share lived experiences, discuss best practice and updates in relation to EDI.
• We were proudly awarded the Navajo Merseyside & Cheshire LGBTQIA+ Charter Mark once again, recognising our commitment to inclusivity in the workplace.
• We are an accredited Disability Confident employer, committed to providing equal opportunities for all.
• Our Mindful Employer accreditation highlights how we invest in our colleagues to ensure better mental health at work.
• Through MyLearning, we offer a wealth of courses surrounding diversity and inclusion, both mandatory and optional, ensuring colleagues are aware of our policies and practices.
• Colleagues are encouraged to display their chosen pronouns on emails and in our employee app.
As a key contributor to the social and economic development of the North West, we are central to the creation of vibrant neighbourhoods across the region.
Through our integrated supply chain, we build affordable, high-quality homes and invest in our communities through a wealth of initiatives and programmes that support our customers to thrive.
Our Registered Providers of Social Housing, One Vision Housing and Pine Court Housing Association, offer a Community Development Fund totalling £25k. The fund is available for voluntary and community groups that require support to deliver projects or services that are beneficial for our customers and communities.
The fund seeks to encourage community projects that contribute to the following themes:
• Vulnerable persons
• Health and wellbeing
• Support for local veterans
• Improved community safety
• Community environmental initiatives
Each year, our Community Development Fund supports hundreds of local beneficiaries, working closely with partner organisations to create safer, more inclusive and healthier communities.
Pine Court Housing Association, Group Partner, was established in 1986 as a Registered Provider of Social Housing. At this time, there was no specific housing provision in Liverpool for the Chinese and Southeast Asian community.
Since their establishment, Pine Court has transformed into a leading provider of social housing for the Black Minority Ethnic community. They promote cultural tolerance and cohesion across their diverse communities, which consist of 56% Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (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.
To uphold our long-standing commitment to the Armed Forces community, we work in close partnership with local organisations, including the Army Reserve Unit 156 Regiment RLC, local veteran charities and Brunswick Youth and Community Centre.
Our partnership with Liverpool Veterans HQ and Veterans in Sefton has led to over 100 local veterans being rehouse and, in many cases, saved from homelessness.
To support with the rehoming process, we offer veterans goods to furnish their new homes and provide vulnerable individuals with ongoing tenancy support.
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, Director at Pine Court Housing Association
In addition, we have proudly continued our volunteer placement programme, supporting veterans with their transition from the Armed Forces into employment within civilian life. A number of veterans that have taken part in this initiative have gone on to secure employment within the Group.
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.
Our Registered Provider of Social Housing, One Vision Housing, has developed a Customer Voice Group. This provides customers with the opportunity to shape, influence and improve our services.
By actively seeking the opinions of our customers and using their feedback to inform our decisions, we shape services and ensure each customer feels valued.
Throughout 2023/24, One Vision Housing’s Customer Voice Group achieved the following:
• The Service Review Group helped to improve services for customers
• The Tenant Scrutiny Team examined our complaints, voids and new tenant processes
• The Tenant Inspectors Group visited void properties and investment work projects to provide feedback
• The High-Rise Living and Building Safety Group helped review processes
• The Brand Group helped to create a range of communications, including our annual reports and customer newsletter
We will continue to amplify the voice of our customers with the introduction of Tenant Satisfaction Measures, in line with new consumer regulations set out by the Regulator of Social Housing.
By creating meaningful employment opportunities, we ensure the workforce of tomorrow fulfils their purpose.
Our Pathway into Construction initiative made a return, with three female students taking part. The initiative encourages female students to consider a career in the construction industry by providing them with purposeful work experience.
By inspiring and engaging the minds of tomorrow as they take their first steps into the world of work, we fulfil our mission of creating opportunities and changing lives.
This is part of many initiatives delivered throughout the year to support the workforce of tomorrow.
We are on a mission to create opportunities and change lives, but we can’t do it alone.
Our unique Group model offers an integrated supply chain solution for the housing sector and a culture of collaboration is ingrained in our organisation.
Our partnership with Pine Court Housing Association, one of our Registered Providers of Social Housing, perfectly encapsulates the benefits of working in partnership.
Retaining their brand identity, their ethos and their people, by joining The Sovini Group, Pine Court were able to remain committed to supporting their predominantly BAME customers, whilst accessing benefits usually only available to larger organisations.
As Group partners, Pine Court have increased their portfolio through the development of new homes and the diversification of their service offer. The Group’s integrated supply chain support them to develop and maintain their homes to the highest standard, whilst access to
corporate services such as finance, HR and marketing, ensures housing colleagues can devote their time to nurturing customer relationships and supporting communities.
In 2023/24, Pine Court increased its housing portfolio by 4% thanks to the unique structure of the Group.
At the heart of everything we achieve are our people and we proudly employ over 830 talented colleagues.
As a responsible business, we strive to create meaningful employment opportunities for local people through collaborations with organisations such as Elevate Education Business Partnership (EBP) and Liverpool City Council.
In 2023/24, we were awarded Patron Status by Elevate EBP for our valued role in raising aspirations, informing career guidance and preparing the workforce of the future.
Sustainable housing and the wellbeing of our customers and the communities they reside in are directly linked. With two Registered Providers of Social Housing within the Group, overseeing over 14,000 homes, we deliver meaningful impact.
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.
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, care and toy packages
• Support packs and heating vouchers for One Vision Housing’s vulnerable customers
• Sponsorship of warm hubs
• Selection boxes for schools
The Group also sponsored Cash for Kid’s Mission Christmas, helping over 500,000 families across the UK by ensuring every child woke up to a present under their tree at Christmas.
Furthermore, our housing customers have been supported with meaningful advice and guidance; with tips on how to lower their bills and access much needed support.
Our impact has also supported 890 customers through our Financial Inclusion Service.
Governance encompasses the internal system of practices, controls and procedures we adopt to measure our impact. It facilitates strategic decision-making, legal compliance and meeting external stakeholder expectations.
Efficient governance is vital in underpinning the work we do. It empowers us to effectively manage risks and make evidence-based decisions. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of good governance by promoting 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.
We are governed within the National Housing Federation’s 2020 Code of Governance and the Board has certified compliance for 2023/24.
The Sovini Limited Board is composed of Group partners and independent board members. Together, they define and achieve the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the Group. This collective effort helps to secure the Group’s long-term viability and success.
Guided by an independent Chair, the Board ensures that the Group adheres to the highest standards of governance, accountability and risk management. This enhances stakeholder confidence and secures the Group’s long-term sustainability.
Board member Category
Colin Marshall Non-Executive Director (Chair)
Mike Ponting Non-Executive Director
Andy Armstrong Non-Executive Director
Jim Currie Non-Executive Director
Mike Parkin Non-Executive Director (Chair of Risk and Audit Committee)
Tracey Liggett Executive Director (Chief Finance Officer)
Roy Williams Executive Director (Group Chief Executive Officer)
As a responsible business, we assess and monitor those threats (risks) which, if not managed effectively could have a negative impact upon the services that we provide to our customers and our resources.
Often, we cannot control these threats as we do not cause them. They include changes in government policy and legislation such as building safety, planning permission and repair standards. Also, changes in the economy and / or are threats that are faced by all businesses e.g. higher interest costs and inflation etc and the potential of a cyber-attack.
This requires us to balance our priorities and resources and make choices in the short to medium term, whilst planning for the future. These choices could include
deciding how much we can afford to spend building new homes, whilst ensuring that we continue to repair, improve and increase the energy efficiency of our existing homes. Also, ensuring that we protect the health and safety of our customers, colleagues and contractors by listening to their views and using this feedback to improve our services.
For us to continue to achieve our purpose, our Board regularly test how effectively we can recover should a threat or multiple threats occur at the same time. This is called stress testing. In most cases the impact of a threat, is that we have less money to spend on our priorities. Should this happen we always have a plan, and this plan is designed to protect, where we can, any adverse impact on customer services.
In December 2023, One Vision Housing proudly secured V1 and G1 regulatory gradings, following an annual assessment by the Regulator of Social Housing. G1 signifies a top rating for governance, affirming our adherence to the Regulator’s standards. Meanwhile, V1 is the highest rating for financial viability, highlighting our ability to navigate through a variety of challenging financial scenarios.
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
• Human Resources
“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
• Health and Wellbeing
• Employee Engagement
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.
• The first release of affordable homes at our Morris Meadows development, proudly named ‘Best Affordable Scheme’ at the Your Move Liverpool Awards. Boasting 149 properties available through Affordable Rent, Rent to Buy and Shared Ownership, the development injected new life into the Netherton community.
• We were proudly awarded the Navajo Merseyside & Cheshire LGBTQIA+ Charter Mark once again, recognising our commitment to inclusivity in our workplace
• Retained Investors in People Platinum status
• Awarded ‘Best Approach to Diversity and Inclusion’ accolade by Northern Housing Awards
• Proudly sponsored Cash for Kids Mission Christmas 2023, which supports nearing 500,000 children across the UK each Christmas
• Pine Court Housing Association acquired 23 homes on Tunstall Street in a £3.4 million deal with Liverpool City Council
• Sovini Trade Supplies had a social impact of £2.24M, an economic impact of £6.47M, an environmental impact of £281K and a charitable impact of £21K
• Sovini Waste Solutions had a social impact of £445K, an economic impact of £705K, an environmental impact of £20K and a charitable impact of £1K
• Teal Scaffold had a social impact of £557K, an economic impact of £827K, an environmental impact of £5K and a charitable impact of £660
• Sovini Construction had a social impact of £759K, an economic impact of £14.29M, an environmental impact of £43K and a charitable impact of £13K
• Amianto Services had a social impact of £798K, an economic impact of £1.75M, an environmental impact of £12K and a charitable impact of £500
• Sovini Property Services had a social impact of £9.8M, an economic impact of £16.98M, an environmental impact of £462K and a charitable impact of £6K
• Sovini Commercial created £56.78M in social value
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