To be better equipped at sustainability matters, businesses can choose to participate in either a basic or intermediate level of training, depending on their needs. Companies will also undergo an initial baseline assessment to establish their carbon footprint. By the end of the programme, they will have formulated a clear sustainability action plan or have started to implement their decarbonisation strategy.
Participating companies will also be able to access a panel of sustainability specialists to guide them on their respective sustainability journeys. Registration for the first cohort of up to 100 companies is now open and all sectors are welcome.
EnterpriseSG will support 70% of the cost of eligible activities[2] per company till 31 March 2026. Singapore companies will also be able to leverage DBS’ suite of financing solutions at preferential rates. These include green loans, as well as sustainable trade and supply chain finance, to capture opportunities associated with decarbonisation.
The initiative comes amid Singapore’s acceleration towards a green economy, with the introduction of new policies to enable sustainable practices and mandatory climate disclosures.
Geoffrey Yeo, Assistant Managing Director of Enterprise Singapore, said: “With evolving consumer demand and increasing supply chain, regulatory and investor pressure globally, Singapore enterprises can benefit from building sustainability capabilities to stay competitive and relevant. DBS is a key partner in our efforts to provide a comprehensive range of support to guide enterprises through their journey in sustainability. Enterprise Singapore encourages our local companies to tap this programme and embed sustainability in their business strategy and operations.”
Koh Kar Siong, Group Head of Corporate and SME Banking, DBS, said: "The transition to a low-carbon economy can be complex for smaller businesses due to constraints such as the lack of resources, time, expertise and funds. It is imperative that we provide companies with the necessary support to integrate sustainability into their business operations. DBS is one of the first financial institutions to build up an ecosystem of partners to nurture businesses in their sustainability journey. The ESG Ready Programme aims to help companies remove the guesswork on how to become sustainable by laying out a comprehensive roadmap with clear steps and relevant solutions, making it easier for them to take action. This is one way DBS goes beyond banking services, to bridge the gap and support companies in a holistic manner."
The ESG Ready programme was launched at DBS’ inaugural Sustainability Day, held at the bank’s headquarters at Marina Bay Financial Centre. The half-day event brings together the bank’s ecosystem of sustainability partners to help companies identify actionable pathways to transition to lower carbon business models, and spotlights sustainable financing solutions, strategies and tools that enable businesses to achieve sustainable growth. About 100 people attended the event which involved workshops on sustainability transition, and a panel of three mid-size corporations – Pan-United Concrete, Barghest Building Performance and Ghim Li – on their sustainability efforts.
As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee, DBS continues to leverage its experience in helping SMEs upskill. The Sustainability Day platform and ESG Ready Programme are the latest in DBS’ ongoing efforts to help companies develop their sustainability know-how. For example, DBS previously announced a partnership with Sheng Siong to help its suppliers become more resource-efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.
For more information on the ESG Ready Programme and to register interest, please visit https://www.dbs.com.sg/sme/dbs-forms/esg-ready-programme-interest-form.
[1] An SME is defined as having an annual sales turnover of under SGD 100 million, or employs less than 200 workers. A mid-size company is defined as having an annual sales turnover of between SGD 100 million and SGD 1 billion.[2] Eligible activities include carbon assessment, consultancy as well as certification and assurance.
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