The SME Sustainability Data Taskforce is a UK cross-sector initiative convened by B4NZ and the Broadway Initiative to develop a streamlined and proportionate approach to sustainability and emissions data for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Established to address the growing burden of inconsistent data requests from banks, large corporates, and public procurement systems, the Taskforce aims to create a common, practical framework that enables SMEs to report sustainability information once and share it across multiple market uses. Its work feeds into the Net Zero Council, ensuring that lessons from industry implementation inform national net-zero policy development.

The Taskforce has focused on designing an SME-appropriate emissions reporting approach that balances usability with credibility, recognising that existing corporate disclosure frameworks are often too complex for smaller firms. This work led to the development of the UK SME Voluntary Emissions Standard, intended to improve data consistency, reduce administrative friction, and support access to finance and supply-chain participation. Having completed its initial design and consultation phases, the initiative is now in Phase 3, which is centred on market adoption and integration, working with financial institutions, corporates, technology providers and policymakers to embed the standard into real-world lending, procurement and reporting practices so that SME sustainability data functions as shared market infrastructure supporting the UK’s transition to net zero.