United Bulgarian Bank (UBB), in partnership with Social Innovation Solutions (SIS), the Coca-Cola Foundation and Clean Tech Bulgaria, present a new online course of the Sustainability Academy platform, on the Sustainable Funding topic. This course is intended for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and is now accessible in the Sustainability Academy online platform.

The aim of the course is to trigger the active involvement of SME business representatives in embracing the ESG principles and their application in managerial practices. This course has been created by experienced experts in the sector, to support companies in their adaptation and transformation towards a sustainable business model. It provides information and clear guidelines as to how companies from this market segment should adapt themselves to new challenges and opportunities, linked to sustainable development.

The practical approaches and advice, included in the course, provide answers to questions, such as:
• What does sustainable funding mean?
• What are the benefits of the sustainable business model?
• How could SME businesses take advantage of the sustainable funding?
• What are the requirements of the European and local legislative frameworks?
• What are the challenges and opportunities, linked to sustainable funding, and faced by SME customers?

„UBB renders long-standing support for trainings and for raising the awareness on the topic of environmental, social and corporate governance. SME companies are not alone in this complex transition to sustainability. While realizing that it is exactly SME companies that are the “backbone” of the Bulgarian economy, we actively engage in supporting them in this development through sharing know-how, tailor-made products and solutions, which contribute to the reduction of global greenhouse emissions. There are challenges, however challenges also mean opportunities.“, said Frank Jansen, nominated for Executive Director SME Banking at UBB.

„This programme provides an opportunity for companies to not only adapt to the new requirements, but to also find out the real benefits from the sustainable management. This is the way of building a competitive and responsible business,“ shared Ms. Mariyana Hamanova, Executive Director of Clean Tech Bulgaria.
The Sustainability Academy platform was launched in 2023 in Romania and attracted over 13 000 participants during its initial 12 months. Thanks to the successful regional expansion, the platform is already accessible for businesses in Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia. The course is utterly free of charge, and the training materials in it are accessible at the following email address: www.akademiya-za-ustoichivost.bg, after registration.