Green path to ESG

"<< Background >>The implementation of the project coincided with legal changes imposing new obligations on enterprises. The project focused on several aspects.THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT were:introducing the ESG topic with an emphasis on Governance (G) for the SME sector and business owners;building professional competencies of Projekt Tarnów and AUTPOST, ESG management staff and non-financial reporting obligations in accordance with the new regulations and the CSRD directive;creating new tools, resources, materials, and a competency catalog ""ESG Guide"" - workshops and tools for SMEs and sole proprietors.The project addressed educational needs related to legal changes. Between 2017-2021, non-financial reporting became a requirement for many entities. The CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) covered about 6,000 companies in the EU, including 300 entities in Poland. It will now cover more. From 2023, the CSRD requires the introduction of ESG reporting in public and private companies employing over 250 people.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the project was to introduce the ESG topic to both Projekt Tarnów and AUTPOST staff and to improve the professional competences of SME sector, sole traders, management staff, auditors, accountants, PR staff via Vocational Educational Training (VET). The project directly implemented the priority regarding the environment and combating climate change as an element of building knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the field of climate and ESG development in the EU, supporting SMEs.<< Implementation >>As part of the project, PROJEKT TARNOW and AUTPOST undertook ACTIVITY 1 & 2. This included research, interviews, reports, workshops both face-to-face and online, 12 case studies, 50 worksheets, 1 compendium of knowledge on ESG legal regulations, tips for SMEs, 2 EPALE articles on ESG, 1 ESG Handbook for SMEs, materials and tools promoting good practices, work with experts, 2 PowerPoint presentations, a conference in Poland with 25 representatives of SMEs and 2 non-Polish participants, project management, and multimedia and graphic design of resources.<< Results >>The specific outcomes of the project included the enhancement of the competences of the staff of the organizations participating in the project as well as the improvement of the competences of entrepreneurs. During and after the project, entrepreneurs were able to familiarize themselves with the outcomes of the activities, which included: research, interviews, reports, both in-person and online workshops, 12 case studies, 50 worksheets, a compendium of knowledge on ESG legal regulations, tips for SMEs, 2 EPALE articles on ESG, an ESG handbook for SMEs, materials and tools promoting good practices, collaboration with experts, 2 PowerPoint presentations, and a conference in Poland with the participation of 25 SME representatives and 2 participants from outside Poland. The participation of entrepreneurs in the activities resulted in an increase in their knowledge of ESG and sustainable development."