Module 4 - Sustainability shared wins: turning authentic stakeholder engagement into sustainability success
Module aim
To support SMEs identify and authentically engage with people and organisations (employees, customers, suppliers, local communities) to strengthen trust, innovation, and long-term resilience.
Module content
Part one: Stakeholder mapping and prioritisation
- Identify key stakeholders and understand their expectations
- Prioritise stakeholder engagement based on salience and your sustainability goals.
Part two: Authentic stakeholder engagement
- Beyond consultation: from reports to relationships
- Turn engagement into collaboration: finding shared sustainability opportunities
- Building authentic relationships to co-create sustainability wins with stakeholders.
Learning outcomes
A “stakeholder engagement action sheet” detailing: i) stakeholder groups; ii) level of engagement; iii) collaboration action plan; iv) engagement timeline.
Learning highlights
- Three hours in-person training at the Centre for Training for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) and the University of Surrey.
- One hour online ‘accountability and implementation’ follow-up session, 30 days after the module.
- Permanent access to the learning materials.
- Ongoing support through the CIFAL Surrey exclusive SMEs sustainability peer-to-peer learning group.
- UNITAR certificate for professional development, upon successful completion of the module.
- Access to a calendar of events held by CIFAL Surrey and the Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey.
Key information
- Module date: Spring 2026
- Location: University of Surrey
- Price: To be confirmed
- Register your interest: cifal@surrey.ac.uk
Sustainability for SMEs
Sustainability for SMEs is about staying competitive, adaptable, and future-ready. This hands-on training series is built for busy small and medium enterprises that want to become resilient, engage stakeholders, and tell their sustainability story with confidence.