We recognise the impact we have on the social and economic development of the areas in which we operate, playing a pivotal role in contributing to the growth and sustainability of the North West. 

We work within the ISO 26000 framework for social responsibility, ensuring we operate ethically and transparently, in a way that improves the communities we serve. 

Through this framework, our approach to corporate social responsibility addresses:

• 1. Organisational governance

  We practice accountability and transparency across all levels of our organisation, and our leadership team champions a workplace culture that values social responsibility when making business decisions.

  We incorporate social and environmental considerations in our decision making process and are accountable for the impact these decisions and activities have on society and the environment.

• 2. Human rights

  We treat all individuals with respect and provide inclusive services to all, making special efforts to help people from vulnerable groups.

• 3. Labour practices

  We provide fair, safe and healthy conditions for our employees and welcome two-way discussions around colleague concerns.

• 4. Environment

  We identify and improve the environmental impact of our operations, including resource use and waste disposal.

• 5. Fair operating practices

  We respect the law and practice accountability and fairness in our dealings with other businesses and suppliers.

• 6. Consumer issues

  We provide good quality homes and services to our customers, give accurate information and promote sustainability. 

• 7. Community involvement and development

  We create job opportunities, work with local enterprises and build vibrant neighbourhoods. We are dedicated to having a presence in our communities and encourage our colleagues to get involved as much as they can.

  Through our Community Development Fund we work closely with partner organisations to build a better future for our customers, supporting thousands of beneficiaries each year as we create opportunities and change lives within our communities.

How we formed our approach to corporate social responsibility

We considered a number of factors, including:

• Interactions with organisations we work with
• The impact our decisions and activities has on stakeholders
• Legally-binding obligations such as applicable laws and regulations 
• Social, economic and environmental obligations that may exist in enforceable contracts
• Ethics outlined in codes of conduct
• Guidelines outlined in memberships and associations we belong to

Recognising that social responsibility is a continuous process, we have integrated it throughout our core decisions and activities, including:

• Making social responsibility integral to our policies, strategies and operations 
• Embedding social responsibility into our organisational culture 
• Considering the impact of our decisions during the planning stage of new activities 
• Reviewing activities on an ongoing basis, to determine whether additional issues need to be considered
• Sharing internal and external communications around social responsibility 

How we report on social responsibility

We collectively report on our environmental, social and governance activities.

As part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility, we complete a self-assessment annually across the ESG reporting framework which is reported to our board members and is also available to read online.

• Compliance statements

  As part of The Sovini Group we are committed to promoting the highest standards of ethical business practice, from our recruitment, employment activities and areas of service delivery, to the behaviours and procedural arrangements we expect from our supply chain.

  Learn more in our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Compliance Statement and Criminal Finances Act Compliance Statement.