Sustainability is no longer just an optional add-on but a fundamental business imperative for Irish companies. Those that fail to adapt risk falling behind competitors, losing market access and facing increasing costs and regulatory pressures in the future.
The transition to sustainable practices often drives innovation in products, services, and processes. Irish businesses that embrace sustainability can discover new market opportunities and develop innovative solutions that can be exported globally.
Early adoption of sustainable practices can provide businesses with competitive advantages, particularly in sectors where environmental impact is a key consideration. Sustainable businesses are increasingly attractive to investors, as environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria become more important in investment decisions.
In addition, companies that demonstrate strong sustainability credentials often have better access to capital and more favourable lending terms from financial institutions.
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Since 2008 the Green Awards have celebrated remarkable sustainability efforts by Irish businesses. As a leading platform for green leadership and innovation, the awards spotlight companies excelling in environmental stewardship.
The renowned Green Awards 2025 ceremony is being held on February 25th, 2025, at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, in Dublin, when about 800 Irish green professionals will be in attendance.
The awards impact ambassador is Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, which offers specialised training for businesses on climate action, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. Through its suite of programmes, the academy supports Irish businesses in developing the skills and talent required to prepare for the effects of our changing climate and environment.
Maria Kelly, Director, Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, commented: “Skillnet Climate Ready Academy is proud to be the Impact Ambassador for the Green Awards 2025. We have seen from the companies that have participated in our programmes how skills and competence development is a key driver of sustainability in enterprise. It is important that we support companies to be climate resilient and help them to start rethinking their business model so they can begin the process of transformation. This can only be achieved if employees across all levels of the organisation have the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to new ways of working.”
In this Q&A, Ms Kelly discusses Skillnet Climate Ready Academy’s mission and the role upskilling plays in sustainability transformation.
What is the Skillnet Climate Ready Academy?
The Skillnet Climate Ready Academy supports Irish businesses in developing the skills and talent required to prepare for the effects of our changing climate and environment. Skills shortages can be a significant barrier to change, and the academy was developed to help Irish businesses develop the skills and competencies to transition their organisations and drive the changes that are required. The programmes we offer are aligned to the key thematic areas of CSRD such as emissions reduction, biodiversity, circularity and building a company action plan. The training is delivered by 20Fifty Partners.
Why is it important that businesses upskill in this area?
Climate change is transforming the business landscape globally, presenting enormous challenges but also opportunity for those prepared to adopt new practices, business models and ways of working for a more sustainable future. To do this, businesses need to develop new skills and competencies to integrate sustainability into their core operations, models and business strategy, and they need the talent to drive this change. The academy was developed to address this need and help businesses and their employees build a more sustainable future for all.
What are the benefits of training with Skillnet Climate Ready Academy?
Tackling the climate crisis requires coming together, collaboration and collective action, and this is what the Academy can offer. Peer-to-peer learning and sharing challenges and experiences is core to our learning approach. Programme content is also based on best practice research and feedback from previous participants, which is important to ensure we are always relevant in a fast-moving domain.
What types of courses are offered by the Academy?
For firms starting out on their sustainability journey or reviewing their progress, the Sustainability Leaders Programme offers a first step to help businesses develop an action plan and strategy aligned to the UNSDGs and CSRD. Our other programmes delve deeper into sustainability topics such as biodiversity, energy management, waste and circularity. The online Sustainability Pass Programme is aimed at workforce-wide education. These programmes are interactive and structured around the needs of business, using real-life industry examples that inspire and empower our learners.
What are micro-credentials?
The academy offers the first enterprise-led micro-credential programmes dedicated to climate action in Ireland. The micro-credentials enable participants to develop tailored sustainability action plans for their organisation while also achieving recognised third-level certification on the National Framework of Qualifications. The micro-credentials may be stacked over time, leading to a Level 7 Certificate in Sustainable Resource Management accredited by the University of Limerick. We have found that by expanding their knowledge and skill sets through micro-credentials employees are motivated to continue learning which can lead to increased job satisfaction and engagement.
What are the outcomes for businesses that undertake academy training?
Participants are integrating sustainability into their business model and strategy and are establishing their baselines and setting targets and KPIs to track progress. They are taking on the challenge of tackling their scope 3 emissions, increasing in-house resources and expertise, and taking steps to reduce their waste and use of resources such as energy and water. They also develop their understanding of key concepts such as double materiality, which is a key requirement of regulatory reporting.
Companies are also examining their supply chains and exploring options to manufacture in-house and increase sourcing from local producers and suppliers. Other participants have developed and improved processes for their industries, such as integrating more waste management and circularity measures into their business models. Many organisations have committed to addressing biodiversity issues by examining potential impacts throughout their value chain, planting thousands of native trees, and engaging their employees in biodiversity projects.
Awards organiser Kevin O’Driscoll, director, partner programmes, at Business River, stated: “It’s a privilege to have Skillnet Climate Ready Academy commit in such a significant way to the Green Awards for 2025. Our awards inspire, educate and connect people to secure further sustainability improvements over the coming years.”
Mr O’Driscoll added that Business River has partnered with Carbon Click as carbon offset partner for the awards event.
“We’ve taken steps to reduce event-related emissions as much as possible, from providing low-carbon meal options to using recycled event materials to encouraging low-carbon transport,” he explained. “Since we’re not in a position to fully remove emissions, we’ve teamed up with Carbon Click to measure and offset the event’s residual carbon emissions.
“Carbon Click only sources carbon credits from the best carbon offsetting projects across the globe, expertly vetted by their team of carbon analysts. It funds initiatives that reduce or remove atmospheric carbon emissions, including native reforestation and clean energy projects. All projects meet the criteria of their 7-point impact check.”
For details on the Green Awards 2025, including booking information, see greenawards.ie
