VSME Training – Sustainability Reporting for SMEs at a Glance
Voluntary Reporting Standard for Small & Medium Enterprises (VSME)
The Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME) provides small and medium-sized enterprises with a practical framework for sustainability reporting. This two-day instructor-led training explains the structure, requirements, and implementation approach of the VSME and helps participants understand how sustainability reporting can support business resilience, stakeholder trust, financing opportunities, and supply-chain requirements.
Participants will learn how to prepare a VSME report, calculate greenhouse gas emissions, conduct materiality assessments, identify sustainability risks and opportunities, engage stakeholders, manage ESG data, and communicate sustainability performance effectively through practical examples, exercises, and implementation guidance.
In this training,
- You will gain a comprehensive overview of the requirements for sustainability reporting under VSME.
- The training provides practical information on how to prepare a sustainability report, including the identification of material ESG issues and the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions.
- You will receive useful tips for practical implementation and learn which tools and processes are helpful for data collection and report preparation.
This training is designed for:
- Sustainability managers and ESG professionals.
- Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) professionals.
- CSR and corporate responsibility professionals.
- Compliance and governance professionals.
- Quality and management system professionals.
- Operations and business improvement managers.
- Finance, risk, and reporting professionals involved in ESG disclosures.
- SME owners, executives, and decision-makers.
- Consultants supporting organizations with sustainability reporting.
- Individuals responsible for preparing, coordinating, or reviewing sustainability reports.
Day 1:
Introduction to the VSME and ESG Context
- Sustainability reporting landscape
- ESG, CSRD and EFRAG overview
- Why sustainability reporting matters for SMEs
- Benefits and challenges of VSME adoption
Structure of the VSME
- Basic Module
- Comprehensive Module
- Reporting framework and data points
- VSME implementation process
System, Context and Stakeholder Analysis
- Organizational context
- Value-chain considerations
- Global sustainability trends
- Stakeholder identification
Carbon Accounting
- Greenhouse Gas Protocol fundamentals
- Scope 1 emissions
- Scope 2 emissions
- Introduction to Scope 3 emissions
- Emissions calculation process
- Carbon accounting tools and resources
Impact Materiality
- Double materiality concept
- Impact materiality assessment process
- Environmental, social, and governance impacts
- Evaluation and prioritization methods
Day 2:
Comprehensive Module Requirements
- Extended ESG disclosures
- Additional workforce disclosures
- Climate risks and transition planning
- Human rights and governance information
Financial Materiality and Climate Risks
- Risks and opportunities assessment
- Climate-related physical and transition risks
- Financial materiality methodology
- ESG-related business impacts
Stakeholder Engagement
- Stakeholder mapping
- Stakeholder assessment
- Dialogue and engagement methods
- Supply-chain considerations
Sustainability Communication
- Communicating sustainability performance
- Communication channels and strategies
- Stakeholder-focused communication
- Greenwashing awareness
Data Management and Reporting
- ESG data collection methods
- VSME templates and tools
- Reporting preparation
- Implementation roadmap and best practices
Final Implementation Workshop and Q&A
Sustainability reporting is becoming increasingly important for small and medium-sized enterprises as customers, investors, banks, and supply-chain partners request more transparency on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME), developed by EFRAG, offers a practical and proportionate framework that helps SMEs respond to these growing expectations.
This comprehensive two-day training provides participants with a structured introduction to the VSME and its relationship to broader sustainability reporting developments such as CSRD, ESG reporting requirements, climate-related disclosures, and value-chain expectations. Participants will gain a clear understanding of both the Basic Module and the Comprehensive Module, including their reporting requirements, data points, and implementation process.
The course guides participants through the practical steps required to initiate sustainability reporting, including system and context analysis, stakeholder identification, greenhouse gas accounting, materiality assessments, climate risk evaluation, and the development of reporting processes. Participants will learn how to collect relevant ESG information, organize reporting responsibilities, and establish efficient sustainability data management systems.
Special attention is given to Carbon Accounting, including Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 emissions, as well as impact materiality and financial materiality assessments. Participants will explore methods for identifying sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities that are relevant to their organizations and value chains.
Through practical exercises, examples, workshops, and implementation tips, participants will leave with a clear roadmap for preparing a VSME report and integrating sustainability reporting into their organization's decision-making, stakeholder communications, and long-term strategy.
After completing this training, participants will be able to:
- Explain the purpose, structure, and reporting requirements of the VSME Standard.
- Distinguish between the Basic Module and Comprehensive Module.
- Identify the ESG data points required under the VSME framework.
- Initiate a VSME implementation process using system, context, and stakeholder analyses.
- Calculate greenhouse gas emissions and understand Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 concepts.
- Conduct impact materiality assessments.
- Understand financial materiality and climate-related risks and opportunities.
- Apply practical tools and templates for sustainability reporting.
- Understand ESG data management and documentation requirements.
- Engage relevant stakeholders in sustainability-related activities.
- Develop sustainability communication approaches and reporting strategies.
- Create an action plan for implementing VSME within their organization.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the purpose, structure, and business value of the VSME.
- Understand how VSME relates to broader ESG and sustainability reporting expectations.
- Identify the information required for both the Basic and Comprehensive Modules.
- Establish a practical approach for implementing VSME reporting within their organization.
- Conduct system, context, and stakeholder analyses.
- Calculate and report greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2, with introduction to Scope 3).
- Perform impact materiality and financial materiality assessments.
- Identify climate-related risks, opportunities, and transition considerations.
- Improve ESG data collection, management, and reporting processes.
- Understand stakeholder engagement approaches and supplier-related sustainability considerations.
- Develop effective sustainability communication strategies.
- Increase readiness for customer, investor, lender, and supply-chain sustainability information requests.
This instructor-led training combines theory with practical application through:
- Expert presentations
- Interactive discussions
- Guided workshops
- Group exercises
- Case-based learning
- Carbon accounting examples
- Materiality assessment exercises
- Stakeholder mapping exercises
- Sustainability communication activities
- Practical implementation guidance
- Knowledge sharing among participants
- Question-and-answer sessions
Participants who attend at least 90% of the training will receive a TÜV SÜD Certificate of Attendance.
Participants should ensure access to a laptop with Word and Excel installed.
No formal prerequisites are required.
A general understanding of business operations, sustainability concepts, or management systems may be beneficial but is not mandatory.
Participants should have access to a laptop with Microsoft Excel and Word for exercises and reference materials.
What is the VSME?
The Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME) is a sustainability reporting framework designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Is this course suitable for beginners?
Yes. The course assumes no prior experience with sustainability reporting and introduces all key concepts step by step.
Do I need prior ESG knowledge?
No. The training starts with sustainability and ESG fundamentals before progressing to reporting implementation.
What is the difference between the Basic Module and the Comprehensive Module?
The Basic Module contains core sustainability reporting requirements, while the Comprehensive Module provides additional disclosures often requested by investors, banks, customers, and other stakeholders.
Does the course cover greenhouse gas accounting?
Yes. Participants learn the fundamentals of Carbon Accounting, including Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 emissions.
Will I learn how to perform a materiality assessment?
Yes. The course covers both impact materiality and financial materiality assessment methodologies.
Does the course include climate risk assessment?
Yes. Participants learn how to identify climate-related risks, opportunities, transition risks, and physical climate risks.
Will stakeholder engagement be covered?
Yes. The course includes stakeholder identification, mapping, prioritization, and engagement approaches.
Is supply-chain sustainability addressed?
Yes. The course discusses value-chain impacts, supplier-related sustainability considerations, and human rights aspects relevant to sustainability reporting.
Are practical exercises included?
Yes. The course includes workshops, exercises, examples, and implementation activities designed to help participants apply the concepts directly.
Will participants receive a certificate?
Participants who meet the attendance requirements will receive a TÜV SÜD Certificate of Attendance.
What tools are discussed during the training?
The course discusses practical reporting tools, ESG data collection approaches, carbon accounting resources, and VSME reporting templates.
What can participants do immediately after the course?
Participants will be able to begin planning and implementing a VSME reporting process, collect ESG data, conduct materiality assessments, and prepare the foundations of a sustainability report.
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