2-day Online Training (Pilot): Starters Kit for Sustainability Reporting - Essential How-to Guide for SMEs

1. WHY THIS TRAINING?

SMEs are not obligated to report on their ESG from the EU Green Deal (EU Taxonomy). The reality shows that the ESG reporting requirements impact SME’s stakeholders (investors, banks & customers) who are already dropping these requirements to SMEs. By 2026, listed small and medium enterprises (LSMEs*) will be required to start with sustainability reporting. SMEs will have a separate and simplified reporting standard to lower their threshold to begin reporting. Thus, the next two years are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the SME's sustainability reporting. Reporting can bring your company regulatory compliance and cost savings, but also market differentiation, innovation opportunities, a more resilient supply chain, competitive advantage and access to capital, to mention a few. More than 50,000 companies will be required to comply with the Corporative Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the upcoming years.

Though 2026 may feel far away, the sooner your company begins planning to meet CSRD requirements, the easier time you’ll have when CSRD goes into effect. Taking time to prepare your calculations and reporting will keep you ahead of the curve when new regulations will be obligatory.

* LSMEs that meet at least two requirements: having over ten employees, over 700 000 EUR net revenue, and over 350 000 EUR in assets (Worldfavor Guide, 2023).

 2. TO WHOM IS TRAINING INTENDED?

- For the first-time adopters: For the SMEs who want to prepare their first sustainability report draft to help ensure that a holistic and integrated approach to reporting is implemented internally and externally.

- Enhanced reporting: For SMEs, you have adopted and implemented some level of reporting but are looking to enhance strategic, operational, and financial considerations as part of the value creation model.

3. CORE INFO ABOUT THE TRAINING

Purpose: Get to know the reporting essentials

When: 20-21 March 2024 (Pilot)*

Methodology: Intensive 2-days (6h +1h break per day)

Delivery of the Pilot: Only 5 participants

Delivery of the regular training: Only 10-12 participants

Price for the Pilot: Company / Individual

For the pilot, we offer a 40% discount.

- For Companies, 1200 EUR (+24% VAT)  Price with a 40% discount and VAT included is 892,80 EUR

- For individuals, 900 EUR (+24% VAT) Price with a 40% discount and VAT included is 669,60 EUR

Price for the future regular training: Company / Individual

The total price for future training will be

- for Companies 1200 EUR (+24% VAT)

- for Individuals 900 EUR (+24% VAT)

The course is intended for first-time reporting adopters, sustainability experts, and SME owners from Europe, as regulations correspond to EU sustainability regulations.

*Pilot means that we will test the training format, content, and exercises and collect participant feedback for possible adjustments and future improvements.

4. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

- 2 days of training, 6 hours per day (3h+3h+1h break)

- Slides from training and any other material from exercises

- Insides into basic regulations for LSMEs and VSMEs

- Essential terminology related to reporting

- A reliable framework that you can follow during the reporting process

- Materials: Templates assisting you in your reporting planning journey

- Supporting recourses and links to explore additional recourses after the training

- Expert & Peer Meeting: Participants integrate learnings and exchange reporting practices every first Friday of the month

5. WHAT THE TRAINING COVERS?

Training includes 12 modules. Each module contains 30 minutes of information and 20 minutes of practical group work or interactive discussion. Between modules is a 5 to 10-minute break. There is also a planned 1-hour break for lunch.

Pre-training preparations: answering the questionnaire and short preparatory exercise

DAY 1 Morning 9:00 - 12:00

Module 1:  Why is sustainability reporting vital for SMEs? How will CSRD affect SMEs?

Module 2:  SDG and other reporting standards like GRI, EU Taxonomy

Module 3: New ESRS obligatory standard for sustainability reporting

1 hour lunch break

DAY 1 Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00

Module 4: Company strategic focus and future orientation - a roadmap for non-financial reporting

Module 5: Materiality and Double Materiality

Module 6: Stakeholders analysis and engagement

DAY 2 Morning 9:00 -12:00

Module 7: Connectivity of information

Module 8: What is Integrated Reporting, framework elements and terminology?

Module 9: KPIs impact and sustainability metrics

1 hour lunch break

DAY 2 Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00

Module 10: What is the GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reporting standard?

Module 11: Implementation of the company's sustainability targets and communication

Module 12: Develop your action plan according to CSRD/ESRS

The program is subject to minor changes.

6. WHAT WILL NOT BE COVERED?

We will not covered

- Industry-specific standards, certificates

- Data points (Excel sheets)

- Detailed regulations and procedures

- The output of this training is not a ready-made sustainability report.

- IMPORTANT: Standards presented at training are intended for the EU.

7. EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Upon completing training, you will gain:

- Understand the impact of your business and the sustainability actions to prioritise along your business development roadmap.

- Learning about sustainability reporting standards and elements and social impact measurement elements, you will understand sustainability concepts and reporting frameworks comprehensively.

- Developing practical skills in identifying and measuring social impact indicators will enable you to integrate sustainability into your business practices and build trust with customers and partners.

- Working on actionable plans, legal considerations, and ethical practices and fostering a network of professionals in the field.

8. ABOUT THE TRAINERS

Helena Sustar, PhD

Helena is the founder of Habitania Institute, a Finnish sustainable consultancy that assists SMEs in transitioning to more sustainable practices and businesses. Helena has a strong research background from Aalto University and Sheffield Hallam University (UK). She has a comprehensive understanding of the EU circular companies’ ecosystem as she analysed more than 50 circular EU companies' business models, which gave her a holistic understanding of the primary challenges and opportunities that Finnish, British, Swedish, and Dutch companies face.

Furthermore, Helena has nine years of experience in adult education to the highest standards and capabilities. She teaches two service design courses at Aalto University with over 2000 participants attending worldwide and from consulting and mentoring EU, Brazilian, and African SMEs and start-ups. Helena has focused on sustainability reporting, the latest CSRD and ESRS developments, and their integration with ESG, GRI standards, and SDG framework for the last two years. She wishes to assist as many companies as possible towards sustainability reporting and higher transparency and accountability.

Ulrike Zacharias

Ulrike Zacharias freelances in Organisational Development and is currently completing an MSc in Behavioural and Organisational Psychology. She is an experienced lecturer on topics such as Systemic Organisational Consulting, People, Organisation & Culture and applied circularity methods.

9. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAINING

More information about the 2-day online training will be available at the forthcoming Webinar on February 8th, 12:00 -13:00 EET.

If you wish to receive answers to your questions in person, contact the trainer at helena.sustar@habitaniainstitute.com or book an appointment at https://calendly.com/helena-sustar/30min.

Helena Sustar, Habitania Institute, 2024. All Rights Reserved.