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

1. WHY THIS TRAINING?

Currently, 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 2 years are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the SMEs' 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 10 employees, over 700 000 EUR net revenue, and over 350 000 EUR in assets (Worldfavor Guide, 2023).

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

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 Mar 2024 (Pilot)*

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

Delivery of the Pilot: Only 5 participants

Price for the Pilot: Company / Individual  For the pilot, we offer a 40% discount.

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

- for Individuals 900 EUR (+24% VAT) Price with 40% discount and VAT included is 669,60 EUR

Delivery of the regular training: Only 10-12 participants

The full 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, there 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 reporting is vital for SMEs? How will CSRD affect SMEs? | Reporting timelines, framework and critical reporting elements.

MODULE 2

What are Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? | How your company's business mission and vision can align with SDGs?

MODULE 3

ESRS new obligatory standards for sustainability reporting.  | What is the reporting standard, and how do you report according to it?

a) LSMEs (Listed Small and Medium Enterprises) | What is the reporting standard for LSMEs?

b) VSME (Non listed Small and Medium Enterprises) | What is the voluntary standard for VSMEs?

1-hour Break Lunch 

DAY 1 Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00

MODULE 4

- Assessment of the company's current sustainability situation. | Company strategic focus and future orientation – a roadmap to non-financial reporting.

Incorporating sustainability plans alongside business development strategies

MODULE 5

Materiality and Double Materiality (Impact materiality, Financial materiality) | How do you conduct a double materiality analysis according to CSRD/ESRS?

MODULE 6

Stakeholder analysis | Stakeholders engagement and their relevance to the materiality assessment. | 

DAY 2 Morning 9:00 -12:00

MODULE 7

Reporting requirements and the structure. | Connectivity of information: Information required for reporting qualitative vs quantitative disclosures.

MODULE 8

What is Integrated Reporting, framework elements and terminology? | Assurance

MODULE 9

- KPIs impact and sustainability metrics and their separation from traditional business metrics

- The impact of KPIs associated with corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and ethical business practices.

- How can sustainability reporting complement financial reporting practices?

1-hour Break Lunch 

DAY 2 Afternoon 13:00 - 16:00

MODULE 10

What is the GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reporting standard? | Relevant terminology (Scope1,2 and Scope 3) | Self-assessment of GHG with free available tools

MODULE 11

Implementation of your sustainability targets | Communication of sustainability to stakeholders, investors, and customers | Greenwashing

MODULE 12

- Develop your action plan to report according to CSRD/ESRS for LSMEs and VSMEs | How to translate knowledge from the training into an action plan to report according to the 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 will help you understand sustainability concepts and reporting frameworks comprehensively.

- Developing practical skills in identifying and measuring social impact indicators, which 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

With a strong research background from Aalto University and Sheffield Hallam University, Helena has a deep understanding of the EU circular companies' ecosystem. Analysing over 50 circular EU companies' business models has given her insights into the primary challenges and opportunities faced by Finnish, British, Swedish, and Dutch companies.

With nine years of experience in adult education, Helena upholds the highest standards. She currently teaches two service design courses at Aalto University, attracting over 2000 participants worldwide. Additionally, she provides consultancy and mentoring to EU, Brazilian, and African SMEs and start-ups. Over the past two years, Helena has concentrated on sustainability reporting, staying updated on CSRD and ESRS developments, and integrating them with ESG, GRI standards, and the SDG framework. She aims to support companies in achieving sustainability reporting, fostering higher transparency, and ensuring greater 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

For any aditional information feel free to contact us at helena.sustar@habitaniainstitute.com or 

book an appointment at https://calendly.com/helena-sustar/30min if you wish to receive answers to your questions in person.