Aims

The course aims to provide participants with an understanding of the purpose of and drivers for sustainability reporting. This includes determining the most appropriate type of report for an organisation, the key guidelines, the tools required for gathering information to be in the report, the assurance process and the types of evidence required as well as ensuring ongoing improvement for the organisation’s reporting.

Course Module Outlines

1. (½ day) Drivers for Reporting & Getting Commitment
   Including: understanding and evaluating the key drivers and pressures on the company to report; how to ensure ongoing commitment to report from top management.
   
   
2. (½ day) Logistics of Reporting
   Including: determining which stakeholders the report is aimed at; the most appropriate format for producing the report; identification of material issues for inclusion in the report; establishing the most appropriate team for reporting.
   
   
3. (½ day) The Guidelines and Standards
   Including: The Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Guidelines (2002); the AA1000 framework (1999); ISO guidelines.
   
   
4. (1 day) How to Report
   Including: determining what information to include in the report; methods for gathering relevant information (eg, stakeholder dialogue); identifying the most appropriate indicators to use for reporting.
   
   
5. (½ day) Preparing for Assurance
   Including: understanding the evidence that is needed; awareness of the different approaches to assurance; how to select the assurance approach most appropriate to the organisation.
   
   
6. (½ day) Continual Improvement of Reporting
   Including: the use of stakeholder feedback from report; methods for improving reporting; methods for identifying and setting appropriate improvement targets.