ESG Training ESG Training and Train-the-Trainer for EU Programmes

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I work as ESG expert, lead trainer or mentor in EU-funded, development cooperation and university programmes, either from the proposal stage or once the project is running.

What I deliver

Workshops, half or full day
Courses up to 39 academic hours
Train-the-trainer and mentoring
Guest lectures and expert sessions
Course design, materials and assessment

Practical details

English (C2) and Estonian (native)
In person or online, travel within Europe
Invoicing through Foodinspect OÜ, Estonia (EU)
Groups of 8–20 for workshops

ESG train-the-trainer programme, Ukraine

Programme implemented by Visionest Institute (Estonia) and funded by ESTDEV, the Estonian Centre for International Development. I was the international ESG specialist, working alongside a UK trainer-development expert.

Stage 1 · Train the trainers

12 experts selected from 50 applicants across six sectors. I designed and delivered the Environmental and Social workshops and mentored the trainers as they built their own materials.

4.9 → 9.1ESG knowledge

4.0 → 9.2carbon accounting

5.5 → 9.0readiness to train

Stage 2 · Pilot for SMEs

The new trainers delivered the programme to 47 participants from 37 companies, 40% of them exporters. Companies introduced energy-efficiency measures, hazardous-waste contracts and new governance policies.

×2ESG knowledge

+73%environmental knowledge

4.83 / 5satisfaction

Programmes and partners

RecentESG train-the-trainer programme, Ukraine · Visionest Institute, funded by ESTDEV. ESG specialist and mentor.

2025EU4Business, GIZ · Online expert session for Ukrainian SMEs: environmental initiatives and social responsibility.

2025TalTech · Guest lecture "Sustainable food production – ESG", Climate Neutral by 2035 programme, NextGenerationEU.

2025EIT Food, Tartu Biotechnology Park · Workshop "What does ESG mean for small-scale producers?" All 15 participants calculated their company's CO2 footprint.

2023–Võru County Education and Technology Centre · Developed and delivered the 39-hour ESF-funded course ESG in Food Production. Rated 6.0 out of 6 for subject knowledge by every participant.

What the training covers

Environment

CO2 footprint, scope 1–3, CBAM
Life cycle assessment and EPDs
Circular economy (9R), waste and packaging
Energy and resource efficiency

Social

Health and safety, working conditions
Supply chain and ethical trade (Sedex/SMETA)
Diversity, training and wellbeing
Community and stakeholders

Governance and strategy

EU context: Green Deal, CSRD, Omnibus, VSME
Buyer and bank ESG questionnaires
Materiality, risks and goals
Writing an ESG action plan

1 · Learnwhere the company stands and what matters to its stakeholders

2 · MeasureCO2 footprint and a few meaningful indicators

3 · Actlow-cost first steps, policies and purchasing

4 · Assessreview progress and plan the next stage

Participants leave with their own footprint calculation and a written action plan.

Meet your trainer

I'm Maarja Mathias. I spent over ten years as a technical manager in UK industry: food safety, quality and ethical trading at a frozen food manufacturer supplying retailers across Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.

So I teach ESG from the inside: what auditors and buyers actually ask for, and what a small team can realistically do first.

Qualifications

Level 7 Diploma, Train the Trainer
BSc Ergonomics, Environment, Health and Safety, Estonian University of Life Sciences
M&S Select Farm produce auditor
EIT Food Empowering Women in Agrifood finalist, Estonia 2023

How a session runs

Short input with real company examples
Work on your own business data in small groups
Feedback from me and the group
A clear next step to take back to work

Bring basic data if you can: energy bills, fuel use, waste records, number of staff. I'll send a checklist in advance.

"Just thank you for perfect structure, brilliant examples and personal involvement."

ESG trainer, Ukraine

"Very interactive and productive."