Telling your story through reporting: from action to visibility

Module aim

This module teaches SMEs how to effectively translate their sustainability achievements into clear, credible, and compelling communications. Learn to build trust and leverage your sustainability actions to enhance your brand, attract customers, and secure investment.

Module content

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Part 1: Data-driven communication

  • Using relevant business metrics and performance indicators (KPIs) to clearly demonstrate progress, resilience, and areas for improvement across your organisation.
  • Learning how to interpret and communicate data in ways that support stronger decision-making, stakeholder confidence, and long-term business performance.
  • Exploring practical reporting approaches and simplified frameworks that help SMEs track, communicate, and benchmark progress consistently and credibly.

Part 2: Building an authentic narrative to engage stakeholders

  • Developing an authentic business narrative that reflects your organisation’s values, strengths, adaptability, and long-term vision for thriving in a changing environment.
  • Learning how to communicate your journey in a way that is credible, evidence-based, and aligned with real business actions and outcomes.
  • Identifying the stories, examples, and impacts that make your organisation distinctive, resilient, and relevant to stakeholders.

Learning outcomes

Participants will walk away with a practical “Reporting and Communication Toolkit” designed to help them communicate their organisation’s progress, strengths, and future direction with clarity and credibility. The toolkit will include:

  • A customised three-part messaging framework covering:
    • Key business themes and priorities
    • Supporting data points, metrics, and evidence
    • Clear calls-to-action for different stakeholder groups
  • A concise organisational narrative that communicates resilience, adaptability, long-term value, and future-readiness
  • A framework for identifying and communicating meaningful KPIs and progress indicators relevant to their business
  • Practical examples of how to communicate achievements, challenges, and future goals in a way that builds trust and engagement.

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: Friday 10 July 2026 from 9am to 12:30pm
  • Location: Thomas Telford Building, Institute for Sustainability, Stag Hill campus, University of Surrey
  • Price:
    • For the single module £250 (VAT exempt) – book via CIFAL Surrey online store
    • Concession tickets: We have two concession tickets available for local micro and small enterprises. Please get in touch to apply at: cifal@surrey.ac.uk
    • Group discounts: We offer discounted packages for groups of 3 employees and above. Please get in touch to apply at: cifal@surrey.ac.uk.

Book online now

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.