€5,000 over 3 years covering up to 75% of advisory costs
A new ESG Grant by Malta Enterprise will support small and medium sized enterprises acquire the necessary advisory services to enhance their sustainability.
This new government scheme was announced by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli and Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia.
The grant will provide up to €5,000 over three years to small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) for advisory services to support them in ESG reporting. The list of businesses that are eligible for this scheme is wide-ranging, from smaller enterprises that employ up to five full-time employees to medium-sized companies employing up to 250 full timers, or their equivalent.
Minister Miriam Dalli noted that this new grant is implementing another of the government’s forward-looking electoral pledges, as well as an important Budget 2023 measure, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transition the economy towards climate neutrality by 2050.
“Since we first introduced the concept of ESG reporting in Malta, we always believed that this would help enterprises and our communities in becoming more efficient, decarbonised, sustainable and socially just. Through initiatives like these, every enterprise, regardless of its size, has access to the necessary resources needed to continue advancing toward a sustainable economy, attracting investments, and expanding its operations,” Minister Miriam Dalli said.
“Within a short time, businesses that are already reporting their results through the ESG Portal registered an eight percent decrease in their carbon dioxide emissions and generated nine percent less waste. They also reported an increase of seven percent of women in managerial roles, and 13 percent more independent directors on boards,” the Minister added.
Malta Enterprise CEO Kurt Farrugia stated that, “As Malta Enterprise, our mission has always been to assist companies in developing their business as we navigate changing market trends and economic developments. In recent years, Malta Enterprise has continuously understood the rising need for sustainability efforts within the business community and has taken action to incorporate this requirement in the diverse schemes it offers. This measure will instigate more environmental consciousness amongst our businesses while pushing for proper internal structures of management and more representative workplaces, where employees are valued for their contributions.”
Through the new scheme, beneficiary companies will be eligible for a cash grant of €3,000, capped at 75% of the costs associated with engaging an advisor to assist with ESG reporting. They will also have the option to receive additional aid in the subsequent two years, with an additional €1,000 cash grant available in both Year 2 and Year 3.
Malta Enterprise seeks to integrate sustainable practices in its support and investment programmes. In fact, the recently revamped Skills Development Scheme also includes new provisions to help enterprises provide ESG training to employees.
Companies interested in finding out more about this scheme and other Malta Enterprise initiatives can visit maltaenterprise.com or contact Business First on 144.
Malta Enterprise tniedi skema t’appoġġ għar-rappurtaġġ tal-ESG mill-azjendi żgħar u medji
€5,000 fuq 3 snin li jkopru sa 75% tal-ispejjeż ta’ konsulenza
Malta Enterprise nediet għajnuna għar-rappurtaġġ tal-ESG lin-negozji żgħar u medji biex jiksbu s-servizzi ta’ konsulenza meħtieġa sabiex ikunu aktar sostenibbli.
Din l-iskema ġdida tal-Gvern tħabbret mill-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli u l-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Malta Enterprise Kurt Farrugia.
L-għotja se tipprovdi sa €5,000 fuq tliet snin lill-intrapriżi żgħar u medji (SMEs) biex iħaddmu konsulenti biex jgħinuhom fir-rappurtaġġ tal-ESG. Il-lista ta’ negozji li huma eliġibbli għal din l-iskema hija waħda wiesgħa, minn intrapriżi żgħar li jimpjegaw sa ħames ħaddiema full-time sa kumpaniji ta’ daqs medju li jimpjegaw sa 250 ħaddiema full-time, jew l-ekwivalenti tagħhom.
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli nnotat li din l-għotja tfisser it-twettiq ta’ wegħda elettorali oħra tal-Gvern li tħares lejn futur aħjar, kif ukoll miżura importanti tal-Baġit 2023. Dan jikkonferma mill-ġdid l-impenn tal-Gvern lejn it-transizzjoni ekonomika lejn in-newtralità tal-klima sal-2050.
“Minn meta introduċejna l-kunċett ta’ rappurtaġġ tal-ESG f’Malta, minn dejjem emminna li se tgħin lill-kumpaniji u l-komunitajiet tagħha billi jkunu aktar effiċjenti, dekarbonizzati, sostenibbli u soċjalment ġusti. Permezz ta’ inizjattivi bħal dawn, l-intrapriżi kollha, irrispettivament mid-daqs tagħhom, għandhom aċċess għar-riżorsi meħtieġa biex ikomplu javvanzaw lejn ekonomija sostenibbli, jattiraw l-investiment u jespandu l-operat tagħhom,” qalet il-Ministru Miriam Dalli.
“Fi żmien qasir, in-negozji li diġà qed jirrapportaw ir-riżultati tagħhom fl-ESG Portal irreġistraw tnaqqis ta’ tmienja fil-mija fl-emissjonijiet tad-dijossidu tal-karbonju tagħhom u ġġeneraw disgħa fil-mija inqas skart. Irrappurtaw ukoll żieda ta’ sebgħa fil-mija fin-nisa fi rwoli maniġerjali, u tlettax fil-mija aktar diretturi indipendenti fil-bordijiet,” żiedet tgħid il-Ministru.
Il-Kap Eżekuttiv ta’ Malta Enterprise, Kurt Farrugia, stqarr li “Bħala Malta Enterprise, il-missjoni tagħna dejjem kienet li ngħinu lill-kumpaniji jiżviluppaw in-negozju tagħhom biex jilqgħu għat-tibdil fit-tendenzi tas-suq u fl-iżviluppi ekonomiċi madwarna. F’dawn l-aħħar snin, Malta Enterprise kontinwament fehmet il-ħtieġa ta’ iżjed impenn lejn is-sostenibbiltà fi ħdan il-komunità tan-negozju, u għalhekk ħadet azzjoni biex tinkorpora dawn ir-rekwiżiti fl-iskemi diversi li toffri. Din il-miżura se tqajjem aktar kuxjenza ambjentali fost in-negozji tagħna filwaqt li timbotta għal strutturi interni ta’ tmexxija aktar b’saħħithom u postijiet tax-xogħol aktar rappreżentattivi, fejn l-impjegati huma stmati għall-kontribuzzjonijiet tagħhom.”
Permezz tal-iskema l-ġdida, il-kumpaniji benefiċjarji se jkunu eliġibbli għal għotja fi flus ta’ €3,000, li jkopru sa massimu ta’ 75% tal-ispejjeż biex iħaddmu konsulenti biex jgħinu fir-rappurtaġġ tal-ESG. Se jkollhom ukoll l-għażla li jirċievu għajnuna addizzjonali fis-sentejn ta’ wara, b’għotja ta’ €1,000 fi flus addizzjonali disponibbli kemm fit-tieni sena kif ukoll fit-tielet sena.
Malta Enterprise tfittex li tintegra prattiċi sostenibbli f’diversi assistenza u sapport. Fil-fatt, l-iSkills Development Scheme li ġiet aġġornata riċentement issa tinkludi wkoll proviżjonijiet li jgħinu lin-negozji jipprovdu taħriġ tal-ESG lill-impjegati tagħhom.
Kumpaniji interessati jsiru jafu aktar dwar din l-iskema u inizjattivi oħra ta’ Malta Enterprise jistgħu jżuru maltaenterprise.com jew jikkuntattjaw lil Business First fuq 144.