Targeted ESG training is the ideal way to address this communications gap, enabling organisations to build understanding, gain that initial buy-in, and cultivate a network of informed employees who in turn become powerful ambassadors for their company's ESG commitments.

Bridging the gap with effective ESG communication

Integrating ESG into your business begins with a mindset: every decision should align with ESG values. Yet, too often, organisations treat ESG as a separate policy or standalone initiative, disconnected from day-to-day operations. This siloed approach can limit impact and weaken employee engagement. To truly embed ESG, organisations must communicate its relevance clearly and consistently, making it part of the organisational language and culture.

Internal stakeholders need to see not only what their organisation is doing, but also why it matters – both strategically and socially. When communication falters, even the best-intentioned initiatives can lose traction, leaving teams uncertain about their role in achieving ESG goals.

By creating transparency, reinforcing alignment with big-picture business priorities, and inviting collaboration and participation, organisations turn ESG into a shared responsibility. Effective communication helps shift compliance into commitment and ensures that sustainability efforts gain momentum across your workforce.

ESG training: The engine for internal buy-in and external advocacy

So much more than a compliance exercise, ESG training serves as the catalyst for organisational change and cultural alignment. By arming employees with the knowledge, awareness, and self-assurance they need to understand ESG principles in general and their organisation’s initiatives in particular, training builds the foundation for authentic engagement.

This understanding lets staff see how ESG connects to their everyday decisions and behaviours, whether that’s a procurement manager choosing sustainable suppliers or a frontline employee recognising the importance of reducing waste.

When companies inform and engage their employees, those staff members are more likely to become natural ESG champions within the organisation, encouraging peer learning and workplace cultural shifts that align with long-term sustainability objectives. When businesses achieve this internal acceptance, ESG becomes a lived value rather than a distant corporate promise.

What’s more, the impact extends beyond the walls of the organisation. Employees who understand and believe in ESG principles become genuine external ambassadors as well, and can communicate the company’s commitments with credibility. This authenticity can strengthen relationships with stakeholders, enhance brand reputation, and attract talented staff seeking purpose-driven employers.

Charting your course: Leveraging the ESG maturity curve

Integrating ESG into an organisation is not a single action but a journey that unfolds over time. The ESG maturity curve can help businesses understand and advance along this path. This framework, developed by Green & Good Consulting in partnership with Kineo, illustrates how businesses evolve in embedding ESG practices into their operations, from early philanthropic efforts to purpose-driven leadership. Its purpose is simple yet powerful: to help companies pinpoint where they currently stand, assess opportunities for growth, and align training to their ambitions.

Understanding your position on the curve is the first step towards meaningful progress. Training then becomes the lever that connects business intent with employee action, making sure efforts resonate across teams and achieve measurable outcomes.

The philanthropy stage

Organisations sitting at this spot on the ESG maturity curve often treat giving and charitable work as separate from business strategy. 

ESG training can bridge this gap by showing employees how philanthropic activities connect to broader business goals – for instance, how sponsoring local health initiatives aligns with an organisation’s wellbeing commitments or how supporting educational programs can strengthen a future talent pipeline. 

These activities elevate organisational reputation by positioning the business as a responsible community partner, which can build goodwill with customers, regulators, and investors. They also strengthen relationships with communities by demonstrating genuine investment in local needs, whether through volunteering, disaster relief, or partnerships with grassroots organisations.

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) stage

Here, ESG begins to feature in company values yet often remains siloed within a department. 

Proper ESG training at this point in the curve helps staff recognise the importance of accurate reporting, regulatory expectations, and transparent practices, building even greater trust and accountability. For example, staff who understand reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) can correctly capture and disclose carbon emissions data, avoiding errors that could undermine company credibility. 

Training can also highlight the risks of misreporting in areas such as modern slavery or workplace diversity, where inaccurate or incomplete disclosures might lead to compliance penalties or damage to the organisation’s reputation. 

By equipping teams to consistently collect, interpret, and share data, businesses meet regulatory expectations and demonstrate integrity to investors, regulators, and communities.

The corporate responsibility stage

Businesses at this point on the curve recognise ESG as integral to managing risk, retaining strong talent, and maintaining a competitive edge in the market. 

With ESG training at this stage, employees learn to think beyond compliance and explore innovation. A warehouse team might learn to identify opportunities for waste reduction, perhaps, or procurement officers could receive training in supplier audits for modern slavery risks. This level of training encourages creativity in tackling sustainability challenges and keeps operations moving in the same direction with regulations and market expectations.

The ESG/sustainability stage

Here, a business has embedded ESG into its long-term strategy. 

ESG training at this point aims to arm staff with the know-how to apply sustainability practices directly in their roles. For example, engineers might learn how to design energy-efficient manufacturing processes, or marketing teams might undertake learning modules that help them communicate sustainable packaging practices without greenwashing. At this stage of maturity, employees understand how daily decisions directly affect bottom-line results.

The purpose stage

When companies reach the final stage of ESG maturity, ESG is inseparable from company identity. These organisations are industry leaders, setting benchmarks for others and advocating for systemic change. 

Training here ensures teams remain adaptive and up to date, keeping pace with new regulations (for example, Australia’s Sustainability Reporting Standards or the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), technologies, and sustainability trends. By staying agile and informed, employees help the organisation maintain leadership and continuously embed ESG values into its culture and operations.

Charting your position on the ESG maturity curve allows industry leaders to prioritise the training and resources that will have the most impact. By lining up learning with stage-specific needs, organisations avoid wasted investment and build the knowledge, assurance, and workplace culture required to move steadily forward towards greater resilience, stronger stakeholder relationships, and a truly sustainable future.

Learning curve: The necessity of continuous ESG training 

The ESG journey is never static; it’s a progression that requires organisations to keep moving forward. No matter where you sit on the maturity curve, continuous training keeps your people prepared for whatever’s next. Ongoing ESG learning provides staff with the latest goings-on in sustainability innovations, advances in technology, and shifts in regulation. This way, teams can proactively anticipate change rather than simply react to it. Embedding continuous ESG learning into workplace culture strengthens long-term strategies, enabling organisations to sustain momentum, refine practices when necessary, and consistently push their ESG performance to new levels.

Building a sustainable future, one ambassador at a time

ESG progress can’t happen in isolation. Instead, it can flourish when employees understand, embrace, and champion the values behind it. Training that meets up with your organisation’s place on the ESG maturity curve can transform employees into emissaries for your company – ones who drive meaningful change both inside and outside your business.