FREE SELF-ASSESSMENT
ESG Readiness Checklist for SMEs
Banks, customers and investors are increasingly asking smaller businesses for sustainability information. This free two-page checklist helps you see where you stand today and what to organise first, without needing a sustainability department.
What the checklist covers
1. Environmental
Understand your position
Energy use, waste and business travel – the figures most requests start with.
2. Social
Your people
Headcount, health and safety records, and evidence of training.
3. Governance
How you're run
Written policies, anti-bribery practices and clear decision-making.
4. Readiness
Responding to requests
Whether you can reuse your answers, show where your figures come from, and respond proportionately using the VSME standard.
Who it is for
Owners, finance managers and operations leads at SMEs who have received – or expect to receive – ESG questions from a lender, a larger customer or an investor. It takes around ten minutes and uses information you probably already hold in bills, payroll and existing policies.
Want a more complete picture?
The free TRUST-ESG Questionnaire walks through your business in a few minutes and helps you see where to focus. You'll receive a Certificate of Completion when you submit.
This checklist is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial or regulatory advice. EU sustainability reporting requirements continue to evolve; verify the current rules applicable to your business, or seek professional advice, before acting.