Community

The Group endeavours to contribute to the communities in which it operates particularly those neighbouring its sites. SIG is a member of Business in the Community in the UK and has worked with that organisation to help to develop its approach and practices. This is mainly achieved through charitable donations and other initiatives that help the community.

2010 saw the third year for which SIG Insulations was the main sponsor for the Sheffield Half Marathon event, which raised a record breaking £95,000 for good causes.

The Human Resources ("HR") Director has responsibility for community issues within the Group and reports to the Chief Executive who is responsible for community issues at Board level.

DONATIONS

During the year the Group made donations of £117,000 (2009: 138,000). It is the Group’s policy not to make political donations and no political donations were made in the year (2009: £nil).

The Group has a Charitable Donations Policy. The policy, in addition to supporting local causes where SIG employees are involved, is to provide support for three main charities for a period of three years. For the three years ending December 2010 the three main charities that the Group supported were:

• Henshaws College, http://www.henshaws.org.uk (a charity working with young people, all of whom are visually impaired with additional disabilities)
• Action For Kids, http://www.actionforkids.org (a national charity working with disabled children and young people, their parents and carers)
• St Lazarus Hospice, http://www.hospicjum.krakow.pl (a charity providing assistance for terminally ill individuals and help and support for families in Krakow, Poland).

SIG sponsored Henshaws for a six year period commencing in 2005.  From 2008, continuing in 2010, SIG's donatio was used to fund a Henshaw's College Volunteer Co-ordinator.  The role is currently filled by the ex-Mayor of Harrogate, John Fox.

2010 was the third year of SIG's partnership with Action For Kids, a national charity working to create independence, provide opportunities and offer support to disabled children, young people and their families all around the UK.  SIG's funding in 2010 was used to allow disabled young people to receive relevant training programmes focusing on office skills and preparation for entering the workplace.

Access to SIG's E-learning programme was available for the charity's employees to enhance their computer based-skills.

2010 was the third year of the Group's support of St Lazarus Hospital in Krakow, Poland which was nominated by the European employees.  SIG's continued support ensured that vital equipment was purchased.  In 2010 this included water decalcifying devices, torches for diagnosis, pulse oxymeters and new cabinets and doors.

2010 was the final year of SIG's sponsorship with its three main charities.  The Company is curently reviewing which charities to support in 2011 in line with its policy.

Staff are kept informed of charitable activities and are encouraged to attend events as appropriate, as a means of encouraging them to be personally associated with charitable work and in particular the causes supported by the Group. This has included sponsorship for individuals entering specific events and support in kind for building projects.

The Group has in place a Payroll Giving Scheme, which is available to all UK employees.  Employees are free to choose one of the current SIG sponsored charities or any other charity of their choice.  Donations of £25,000 were made through the scheme in 2010.

SIG has been awarded a Payroll Giving Quality Mark Silver Award in the UK for commitment to good causes and the local community.

Employees also undertake personal fundraising endeavours for a wide range of charities.  The UK intranet, which is available at each location, has a dedicated forum for employees to highlight their fundraising efforts and receive support from their colleagues. 

For further information see the SIG Charitable Donations Policy