A comprehensive online training series

Our experts from the Sustainability & Strategic Regulatory team have collaborated with Swiss Learning Hub – a rising star in the EdTech scene – to create an online training programme that meets the needs of a wide variety of finance professionals in Switzerland. It consists of five separate modules that provide a detailed account of ESG topics from different jurisdictions, with a strong focus on Swiss and EU regulation. The topics covered include:

• ESG regulations and disclosures
• Greenwashing and greenwishing
• ESG investing
• good practice in ESG risk management
• ESG data governance and reporting

Finally, a sixth module will test the knowledge learnt in the previous modules. Upon successful completion of the assessment module, participants will receive a certificate to confirm their newly acquired knowledge of ESG in Swiss finance.

Switzerland, like other countries in Europe, has experienced a strong increase in the amount of capital allocated to sustainability-related investments. According to a market study by Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF), CHF 1.61 trillion had been invested in sustainability-related investments by year-end 2022 in Switzerland alone. This means that many financial service providers can simply no longer ignore the need to provide solutions that take ESG aspects into consideration

Furthermore, studies have shown that there is a verifiable correlation between ESG performance and financial performance. An NYU-Stern meta-analysis of over 1,000 recent studies has shown that most research concludes that good ESG governance typically results in improved operational metrics, including stock price. In other words, even from a purely financial standpoint, taking ESG into consideration can be beneficial for providers of financial products, as identifying ESG outperformers can lead to improved financial performance

An increase in the supply and demand of sustainability-related financial products also brings challenges. A primary pain point faced by most institutions is the increasing complexity and breakneck pace of ESG regulations and initiatives. Furthermore, regulatory scrutiny has been on the rise, with the supervisory authorities homing in on false claims of sustainability in an attempt to rein in rampant greenwashing.

The training we developed with Swiss Learning Hub addresses these challenges by providing the information needed to cope with the increasing complexity and regulatory scrutiny. One example of regulation put in place is the requirement to train employees. In Switzerland, the FinSA mandates that financial service providers need to ensure their staff have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to perform their work. The SBA self-regulation further specifies these rules for ESG matters, providing specific topics that client advisors need to be trained in. The training we developed with Swiss Learning Hub covers these topics holistically, and provides supplementary information in an interactive and engaging manner.

About Swiss Learning Hub

Swiss Learning Hub is the platform for vocational education and training in a globalised working environment. From consulting to production, Swiss Learning Hub develops learning modules and campaigns from A to Z. Their experience in digital media and e-learning projects ensures that your target group will reach its goal faster and to your fullest satisfaction.