As one of Ireland’s leading financial institutions, the Bank of Ireland plays a critical role in supporting businesses transition to a more sustainable future. Most recently in May 2025, the Bank launched Sustainable Business Coach (SBC), a free and easy-to-use digital tool created by Life Moments in collaboration with the Future-Fit Foundation, designed to help Irish SMEs understand and improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.
Recognising the growing pressure on businesses to take meaningful climate and social action, the Bank wanted to go beyond financial services and provide practical, accessible support to SMEs—offering a solution that enables them to start their sustainability journey with confidence and clarity.
Closing the knowledge gap with practical support
While many SMEs were aware of ESG challenges, Bank of Ireland identified that the majority lacked a clear understanding of how to assess their sustainability performance or take the first step forward. Research commissioned by the Bank with Red Cross found that over 70% of SMEs were concerned about the impact of ESG on their business, yet few felt equipped to respond effectively.
The Sustainable Business Coach (SBC) tool was therefore used to enable SMEs to self-assess across a broad range of ESG areas in order to understand where they are today and what actions to take next.
“We recognised that our customers didn’t just need sustainable products – they needed education, guidance and tools to get started,” says Colette Shirley, Director of Sustainability at Bank of Ireland.
Getting Started with the Sustainable Business Coach
Built on Future‑Fit Business Benchmark – a science-based framework – Sustainable Business Coach is a tailored ESG questionnaire that helps businesses evaluate their environmental, social, and governance performance through multiple-choice questions.In under 90 minutes, businesses can complete a tailored ESG questionnaire, which delivers:
- A personalised sustainability score
- A downloadable PDF report with tailored recommendations and actionable next steps
- Guidance aligned with science-based global goals
The assessment can be paused and resumed at any time, making it accessible to time-pressed business owners. The output report can also be used to inform internal strategies or shared externally with stakeholders to demonstrate progress.
Impact and benefits for Bank of Ireland and SMEs
The Bank piloted the Coach with over 50 SMEs in early 2024, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback. Businesses reported greater clarity on their sustainability position and a stronger ability to plan and communicate ESG initiatives. For those in supply chains or preparing for future regulations such as CSRD, the tool provides an essential head start.
For Bank of Ireland, the tool supports a wider ambition to embed sustainability throughout its business offering – strengthening relationships with customers, enhancing long-term commercial viability, and contributing to national climate goals.
“The Sustainable Business Coach doesn’t just deal with the E – it also deals with the S and the G. It helps businesses understand where they are in terms of their employee policies, whether they have gaps, and what they’re doing in their community. It’s quite a holistic tool.” – Colette Shirley, Director of Sustainability, Bank of Ireland
