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Social Responsibility

One of our key values at Sigma is being ‘passionate about people’, from our residents, to the communities to which our developments sit, to those within our business too.

We know that a home isn’t just the bricks and mortar, or even the property itself, it is often the wider area that creates a sense of belonging. We work with local schools and charities to help communities to thrive and create attractive places for residents to live. Ultimately, the better the schools, the longer the families want to stay and feel embedded in their local community

Creating Communities

Our research shows that location is one of the top items of importance for renters, which is why we select sites close to good amenities, schools, transport links and employment hubs to create homes to provide a long term rental solution.

Having a sense of community is really important, feeling like you belong and you are a part of a community makes people feel safe.

We feel we have a responsibility to do what we can, to offer a platform to give residents the opportunity to mix with others. Our annual on-site events have included wood-fired pizza oven nights, a branded ice cream van dash throughout summer, Easter Egg hunts and visits from Santa, his elves and reindeer at Christmas.

We have also implemented Book Boxes on many of our developments, allowing residents to share books for free. Each development book box is looked after by a voluntary resident book guardian!

Supporting the Wider Community

With our background in regeneration, Sigma has a vested interest in not only the community within our own neighbourhoods, but also the wider local communities to which they sit.

Every year Sigma supports local schools, sports clubs and charities to help the areas to flourish.

Sigma continually supports education and development in young people to give them new opportunities and the best chances through life:

Donations between £2,000-£8,000 to local primary school projects on a projects, which have included new school libraries, all-school theatre trips, playground equipment and regeneration and IT equipment.
Staff involved in mock interviews with local high schools
Educational themed mobile escape rooms through our partner Clever Cogz
Our ‘Building For My Future’ twice yearly trips with The Outward Bound Trust, which offers 12 free spaces for young people (from charity partners, suppliers and residents), to have a week of skill building activities and adventures in the Lake District

CLEVER COGZ MOBILE ESCAPE ROOM

We have ran a number of escape room roadshows with our partner (and resident!) Clever Cogz. Each escape room has an educational theme running throughout the activities from a literacy themed enchanted forest, to a health and wellbeing forbidden temple. The escape room has been brought to many schools close to our developments up and down the country, offered to both residents and local primary schools.

BUILDING FOR MY FUTURE COURSE

In 2022 Sigma launched it’s ‘Building for My Future’ Course, with partner The Outward Bound Trust. The course is designed to offer young people key skills in preparation for their future. We hold two intakes per year, with 12 spaces for young people from our charity partners, suppliers and residents (or anyone who may benefit!). The group undertakes an action packed 5 day trip in the Lake District, completely funded by Sigma. Activities include abseiling, trekking, canoeing, camping and much more!

PARK PALACE PONIES

Sigma has been supporting Park Palace Ponies, the volunteer-led equestrian programme based in Merseyside, which teaches inner-city children from deprived neighbourhoods horse riding basics. Sigma supports the riding school on an annual basis, covering free riding lessons for local schools and sponsoring pony Moses. Most recently Sigma donated £30,000 in response to Park Palace Ponies’ crowdfunding campaign to open a new larger riding school at Walkers’ Woods in Aigburth which will accommodate 120 riders, a third of whom live in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country and half live in the 30% most deprived neighbourhoods.

RIVER VIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL, SALFORD

Project: Regeneration of pond area

Daniel Gauld, Head Teacher at River View Primary School, said: “We’re really grateful for the second donation from Sigma. Nature and being outdoors is brilliant for the children’s mental health and wellbeing and the new pond area is brilliant.

“The outdoor greenhouse built from the first donation allows us to associate reading time within playtime and has made a huge difference to the school.”

MILLS HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL, MIDDLETON

Project: Daily Mile running track

Ian Mason, Head Teacher at Mills Hill Primary School, comments: “The childrens’ daily walks around the playground eventually developed into them running three times a week and it’s brilliant to see that fitness levels have improved.

“We encourage our children to be both active physically and to be creative with their environment. The much-needed money from Sigma has transformed our playground and facilities and allowed our pupils to reap the benefits of keeping fit.”

ST THERESA’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, SHEFFIELD

Project: Brand new library with creative mezzanine area, books and electronic scanning in/out system

Mrs Joanne Cupitt, Librarian at St Theresa’s School, said: “The donation has been used to buy plenty of new books for all of the children, which is proving very popular. There is also a sensory roof, reading pods and a fantastic den and mezzanine area, which is being used creatively to replicate different parts of popular books, for example, at the moment it is taking the form of a magical castle. The money has also funded a barcode scanning and checking in system which is used to track the books.”

Lulyana, one of the pupil librarians, said: “the library is my favourite place to be in school.”

SALE UNITED GIRLS FOOTBALL CLUB

Sigma is delighted to support youth sports teams close to our developments throughout the country each year, allowing sports amongst young people to thrive and to remain accessible. Simple Life has been a main sponsor for Sale United Girls FC for a number of years, with Simple Life development Millbank Lock within the catchment area of the club.

Doncaster Plant Works Boxing Club

In 2022, partners Sigma Capital Group, Countryside Properties and Sage Housing submitted a £7,500 cash injection to Doncaster Plant Works Boxing Club, based in Hexthorpe, close to Simple Life Development Pullman Green.

The donation was very much needed for club maintenance, new kit and equipment, but most importantly, this will allow young talent to compete in greater competitions.

We support a range of charities that are important to our residents, our staff and partners.

Investing in our People

The health, wellbeing and personal development of our staff is paramount.

As a company we support staff by funding new qualifications from RICS Chartered Surveyor Qualifications, to Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and CIM (marketing) Diplomas. We further like to support all staff in their own charitable undertakings from sponsored marathons, climbs and walks!

We continually look to build good relationships between all Sigma offices and employees, by having bi-annual all-company social events and activities. We also have an annual Sigma staff magazine which reveals winners of our annual staff recognition awards.

We also look out for our staff with perks such as Well Boxes full of healthy snacks and treats through lockdown in 2020. We continually look at new initiatives to keep our staff healthy and happy. Additionally, we have a designated member of staff who is mental health first aid trained in each office location.

Environmental Initiatives

Sigma recognises that it is a long-term stakeholder in the communities and neighbourhoods it creates, and takes this responsibility very seriously.

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