© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
Whilst there remains considerable uncertainty as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Sigma Capital Group plc, which markets its private rental homes under its Simple Life brand has put a number of measures into action, not only to keep its employees and customers safe and well, but also to give a little back to the community and to try and inject a bit of happiness and wellbeing into the mix, during difficult times.
Sigma has joined hundreds of other businesses in a global initiative to help the most vulnerable citizens to pull through the coronavirus crisis. Former UK Cabinet minister, Rt Hon Justine Greening, launched the C-19 Business Pledge with entrepreneur David Harrison. It encourages employers to join the international coronavirus effort by pledging to help their employees, customers and communities get through the crisis. It is targeting not just the immediate challenges of coronavirus, but also the challenges of recovery. It comes after Justine received a huge response from businesses and universities getting in touch with her and willing to be part of a coordinated effort.
Sigma’s Simple Life brand is adapting its day to day processes to ensure the safety of staff and residents whilst also encouraging business as usual where possible. Virtual viewings and property walk through videos are proving particularly popular with those who are continuing to search for their perfect homes. Inspections on all sites have been understandably paused during the lockdown period but emergency repairs are being carried out where necessary, with the maintenance team observing strict instructions regarding social distancing and where move ins are able to take place safely, Simple Life is using key nests to reduce the need for physical interaction. All of these measures have been put into place to try to adapt to the situation quickly and innovatively with minimum disruption for customers.
Simple Life is having conversations with all of its tenants who have financial concerns at this time and is doing all it can to assist those who are struggling with rent payments. It has also initiated 20% off rental payment for the next 3 months for its NHS worker residents, in recognition of the hard work they do for the country, particularly at gruelling times like this.
Acutely aware that financial pressures, isolation and the stresses of work can have a very negative impact on people’s mental health, Simple Life has also launched a number of initiatives to enhance positivity among its residents. With everyone interacting online at the moment, technology is being used effectively to build community spirit and encourage interaction between customers through Simple Life’s ‘Peace of Mind Month’, which includes an online residents’ competition, with the opportunity to win a spa break for two and a tailored peace of mind prize worth up to £500, as well as an online virtual Easter egg hunt which took place over the Easter period, with sufficiently chocolatey prizes.
There is also a health and wellbeing series featuring a number of online tutorials and classes, all related to having a healthy mind, body and soul. This includes yoga classes, cooking tutorials, self-image seminars and meditation classes. Where possible, Simple Life is also looking to get residents to lead some of these classes themselves and the full series is being supported by regular inspirational quotes on social channels, and tasks which can be done at home.
In the wider community, and in immediate response to the current crisis, Sigma and Simple Life have also donated a further £5,000 to each of the foodbanks that the company supports throughout the country. It is hoped that these donations will help to see them through the next few months with food supplies, running costs and resource.
Victoria Hurcomb, head of marketing at Sigma, said: “We hope that by talking to our customers regularly about their individual situations and providing them with some interactive wellbeing classes and a bit of fun, we are helping them to come out of the other side of Covid-19 positively and in a good position both financially and mentally.”
Plans are also underway to allocate a further £100,000 to select charities over the coming few months. Sigma aims to work with those charities which will be most in need of funding due to the current climate. Sigma is also looking to invite residents to vote for their preferred charity which will help to decipher the % budget split. This will be a nice way to involve residents, especially at a time when not everyone is in a position to donate themselves.