ESG Strategy Consulting: Building a Credible ESG Strategy and How to Hire a Consultant

Example Projects

1. ESG Strategy Development
   A full strategy engagement covering materiality assessment, peer benchmarking, stakeholder engagement, priority setting, target development, governance design, and roadmap creation. The output is a board-approved ESG strategy that directs investment and effort toward the issues that create the most value and manage the most risk.
2. ESG Target Setting and KPI Framework
   Development of measurable ESG targets aligned with regulatory requirements (UK SRS, CSRD), voluntary frameworks (SBTi, CDP), and commercial objectives. This includes defining KPIs that are meaningful, measurable, and connected to accountability structures across the organisation.
3. ESG Strategy Refresh and Regulatory Alignment
   For organisations with existing ESG strategies that need updating for new regulatory requirements or shifting stakeholder expectations. This includes gap analysis against UK SRS and CSRD requirements, materiality refresh, target recalibration, and governance updates.
4. Investor and Stakeholder ESG Positioning
   Development of the ESG narrative and engagement approach for investors, customers, employees, and other stakeholders. This ensures your ESG strategy is communicated in terms that resonate with each audience and demonstrates the connection between ESG performance and commercial value.

Who Do They Work With?

ESG strategy consultants work primarily with boards, CEOs, and senior leadership on strategic direction, with investor relations on ESG positioning, with sustainability teams on technical inputs and implementation planning, and with finance on connecting ESG targets with capital allocation and business planning.

Who Should Hire ESG Strategy Consultants?

Organisations developing their first ESG strategy, companies refreshing outdated approaches for new regulations, businesses preparing for IPO or fundraising where ESG positioning matters, and leadership teams seeking to connect ESG with commercial strategy. The engagement is typically board-sponsored and cross-functional.

ROI and Strategic Benefits

A well-designed ESG strategy focuses investment on the issues that create value and manage risk, eliminating wasted effort on immaterial topics. It provides the coherent framework that makes all downstream ESG activity, from reporting to carbon reduction, more effective and efficient.

Ready to Hire?

Finding the right ESG strategy consultant shouldn't take months. Use Leafr's project scoping assistant to get matched with vetted, independent specialists who have delivered exactly this kind of work. Most clients are matched within 48 hours.