Environmental, Social, Governance Framework Fatigue

For early bird discount please use ESGFFEB100 discount code

VAT is not payable. Registration fees are fully inclusive of: 

• Tuition
• Course materials

Registration is done online by Credit/Debit Card for instant payment and a guaranteed secured place on the course (please note the University of York does not accept American Express cards).

The rules of doing business are changing, with increasing ESG requirements that cut across value chains.  Navigating modern sustainability demands can leave small and medium enterprises overwhelmed by complex reporting standards. This CPD course cuts through the noise, translating the new Voluntary SME (VSME) ESG Standard into actionable, cost-effective business strategy. Designed specifically for SME leaders, operational managers, and advisors, the programme addresses critical internal skills gaps in carbon accounting, risk governance, double materiality assessments, and supply chain compliance. 

Delivered by the University of York, renowned for its world-leading research in environmental science, circular economy, and sustainable management, this programme leverages top-tier academic expertise, real-world exposure to ESG reporting in business and experts that have delivered internationally credible ESG performance. Participants learn to understand their material sustainability risks, establish relevant and credible ESG targets together with a compelling narrative, eliminate greenwashing risks, safeguard supply chain relationships with their upstream and downstream value chain, build long-term climate resilience and enhance their relationship with nature. 

By replacing bureaucratic approaches with streamlined, SME-tailored methodologies, your organisation will gain a tangible competitive advantage, improved regulatory alignment, and stronger investor trust. You will leave with immediately usable assets, including a customised double materiality matrix, verified carbon baseline calculations, a localised nature stewardship strategy, and a launch-ready VSME statement draft.

Please find below the programme schedule. This course will be delivered over four weeks with one eight hour session per week.

Target Roles: SME owners, directors, senior managers, corporate and government affairs specialists, operations leads, procurement, sourcing and supply chain specialists, sustainability managers, environmental consultants, environmental health and safety (EHS) leads, and compliance officers.

Professional Services: Accountants, business consultants, HR professionals, environmental and EHS consultants, procurement professionals, communication teams, and governance advisors supporting SME client bases.

Priority Sectors: Manufacturing, construction, healthcare/life sciences, food and agriculture, logistics, professional services, hospitality, suppliers to the NHS, and charities.

Prerequisites: No prior formal ESG certifications are required; just a passion to ‘do the right thing’. Recommended 2+ years in business management, operations, or advisory roles, alongside awareness of organisational structures and governance.

• Foundations of the Voluntary SME (VSME) ESG Standard and its alignment with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and International Sustainability Standard Board (ISSB) frameworks.
• Double materiality assessment theory, impact vs. financial materiality, and SME prioritisation tools.
• Lean ESG governance frameworks, leadership accountabilities, and embedding a sustainability culture within your organisation.
• Carbon literacy and practical Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions data collection techniques.
• Climate resilience, physical/transition risk identification, and scenario-based continuity planning.
• Biodiversity integration and nature-related stewardship using the Taskforce for Nature-based Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Locate, Evaluate, Assess and Prepare (LEAP) framework.
• Assembling credible VSME ESG statements, tracking metrics, and avoiding greenwashing risks.

Format: Live online delivery through four interactive two-hour sessions, combining expert-led teaching, practical exercises, real-world examples and participant discussion

Online modules: Four two-hour live sessions (8 hours total), covering core frameworks, theory, data preparation and practical application through real-world examples.

Teaching Styles: Theory brought to life through real-world examples, interactive exercises, carbon accounting hackathons, peer review and mentoring, group discussion, and live scenario design.