Important note: this course is also delivered as a as a classroom option
(venue: London School of Economics – LSE)
GRI, ISEP & CPD Certified Course – Geared for busy professionals
This intensive training programme provides the knowledge, tools, and practical methodology required to prepare high-quality sustainability reports and apply the GRI Standards effectively in real organisational contexts.
Delivered by Simon Pitsillides, Founder of FBRH Consultants and a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional, the programme combines deep technical expertise with extensive practical experience supporting organisations in sustainability reporting and assurance.
Participants gain not only the knowledge required to successfully pass the GRI Certification Exam, but also the ability to use sustainability reporting as a tool for governance, strategy, and long-term value creation.
What Makes This Programme Different
Most sustainability courses explain the standards. This programme shows you how to use them.
Participants learn how to apply sustainability reporting to:
- manage sustainability risks
- identify strategic opportunities
- strengthen governance and decision-making
- create long-term value for the organisation, stakeholders, and the planet
Central to the programme is the double materiality methodology, which helps organisations identify their most significant sustainability impacts and understand the risks and opportunities associated with them across the entire value chain.
When applied correctly, sustainability reporting becomes far more than a reporting exercise. It becomes a powerful governance and capital allocation tool that guides leaders toward more informed and responsible decisions.
Plan-of-Action Teaching Methodology
From Understanding the Standards to Implementation
The FBRH Plan of Action is not a slide deck, a checklist, or a theoretical framework. It is a practical working blueprint that translates the requirements of the GRI Standards into:
- clear decisions
- concrete actions
- practical outputs
The methodology guides participants step-by-step from understanding the standards to implementing sustainability reporting in real organisational contexts.
Rather than leaving participants with abstract concepts, the Plan of Action provides a structured pathway for:
- identifying impacts across the value chain
- conducting double materiality analysis
- determining material sustainability topics
- preparing credible GRI-aligned disclosures
- translating sustainability reporting into governance and strategic decision-making
Every group exercise, template, and handout used during the programme is directly aligned with the Plan of Action. This ensures that participants can quickly locate the tools needed for each implementation stage, avoiding confusion or duplication.
By the end of the programme, participants leave with more than knowledge of the standards—they leave with a practical roadmap they can apply within their organisation immediately.
Who This Programme Is Designed For
This programme is designed for professionals who are responsible for sustainability reporting, ESG disclosures, or corporate transparency.
Typical participants include:
- Sustainability and ESG managers
- Corporate reporting and strategy professionals
- Consultants advising organisations on sustainability reporting
- Corporate leaders responsible for sustainability and governance
No prior technical knowledge of the GRI Standards is required.
What You Will Walk Away With
(This is the executive-education style section used by Oxford, INSEAD and LBS)
By the end of the programme you will have:
- ✔ The knowledge required to become a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
- ✔ A clear methodology for identifying impacts, risks, and opportunities across the value chain
- ✔ The practical ability to prepare a high-quality GRI Sustainability Report
- ✔ A structured approach for translating sustainability impacts into credible and decision-useful disclosures
- ✔ A deeper understanding of how sustainability reporting supports governance, strategy, and long-term value creation
- ✔ Complete preparation for the GRI Certification Exam.
Programme Structure
The certification pathway consists of four integrated courses:
1. Preparing a First-Class GRI Sustainability Report
Learn how to apply the GRI Standards to prepare sustainability reports that are credible, transparent, and decision-useful.
Key learning includes:
- understanding the structure and purpose of the GRI Standards
- identifying organisational impacts across the value chain
- determining and prioritising material topics
- reporting in accordance with the GRI Standards
- preparing a clear and compliant GRI Content Index
2. Reporting on Human Rights with the GRI Standards
Understand how organisations should identify, manage, and report human rights impacts.
Participants learn how to:
• identify actual and potential human rights impacts
• align reporting with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• report policies, due diligence processes, and remediation mechanisms using GRI
disclosures
3. Transparency for Tomorrow: Decoding the Sustainability Reporting Landscape
Develop a clear understanding of the global sustainability reporting ecosystem and how major frameworks interact.
Participants learn how to:
- compare GRI, ESRS, IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and other frameworks
- understand emerging regulatory developments
- design coherent sustainability reporting strategies
4. Navigating the GRI Sector Standards
Learn how sector-specific standards strengthen the quality and comparability of sustainability reporting.
Participants learn how to:
- identify sector-specific impacts most likely to be material
- integrate Sector Standards with Universal and Topic Standards
- align disclosures with stakeholder expectations and sector risks
FBRH Exclusive Mock GRI Certification Exam
Because the programme is intensive, participants are supported with the FBRH Mock GRI Exam, designed to reinforce learning and build exam confidence.
Participants can take the mock exam as many times as they wish, with results available immediately.
Pro tip: repeat the mock exam until you consistently score 95% or higher.
This is a strong indication that you are ready to pass the official GRI Certification Exam (75% pass mark).
Learning Options
Choose the learning format that best fits your schedule.
Classroom Learning (London – LSE venue) – £2700
Real-Time Remote Learning (Live Trainer) – £1400
Both options include full preparation for the GRI Certification Exam.
Trainer
Simon Pitsillides
Founder and Managing Director, FBRH Consultants Ltd
Simon is a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional with more than 20 years ofnexperience across strategy, communication, and sustainability reporting. He has supported organisations across Europe, the Middle East, and internationally in preparing sustainability reports and strengthening reporting credibility through independent assurance.
Participants consistently value Simon’s ability to translate complex sustainability standards into clear, practical guidance that can be applied immediately
Most sustainability courses explain the standards.
This programme shows you how to use them.
To manage risks.
To capture opportunities.
And to create value for the business, stakeholders, and the planet.
Gain the right skillset.
Register now.
Select your learning option
Price for 4 course Bundle
From Learning to Real-World Application
With more than 200 reviews, clients gain valuable insights that underscore both our steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional value and the high quality of our courses.
“Having completed the courses, I feel well equipped to take on the challenge.”
Anna Cook, CERN – HSE Communications & Environment Coordinator
“Two excellent days of learning how to create a first class GRI sustainability report.”
Anette Brøto Nereng
Director – Head of ESG Reporting & Assurance, KPMG Norway
Price for 4 course Bundle
This course can be taken as part of the academic preparation to become a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
Course Features
Trainer
Simon is an experienced trainer and combines communication and ESG /Sustainability expertise. This enables him to teach in a clear and practical way course material and empower participants to take sustainability action ASAP. We provide each and every participant with a clear road-map/ practical plan of action. This is assessed in group exercises with clear group tasks to help ensure that you complete the course and are able to go forward immediately.
- MBA Marketing (Oxford Brooked University)
- University of Cambridge business course
“Sustainable Finance”
“Sustainable Supply Chain Management” - GRI Certified ESRS Sustainability Professional
- GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM)
- Fellow of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (FISEP)
- Editor www.sustaincase.com
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Journalism (CIoJ)
- GRI Nominated trainer
- ISEP trainer
Free Mock Exam
Exclusive
Free FBRH mock exam
Reinforce the knowledge you have gained with the FBRH mock exam.
Free access for all full academic path participants.
Check your GRI knowledge with this free sample.
200+ REVIEWS ★★★★★
"You can know nothing about GRI
Standards and in 2 days you will be
ready to advise clients or run a
reporting project for your company."
Laurence Cox
(Salterbaxter, an MSL Company)
“Thanks for two excellent days of
learning How to Create a 1st-Class GRI
Standard Sustainability Report"
Anette Brøto Nereng
(KPMG Norway)
Linkedin post
“Pleased to share that as of today I am a GRI
Certified Sustainability Professional. Great
course, thank you for the insights and
unique learning path”
Ting Chaung Ho
(S&P Global)
Linkedin post
Blog
www.sustaincase.com
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