In Episode 7 of Sense of Identity, Professor Simon Pringle on how ESG practice has shifted over three decades, why governance often belongs first in financial services, and what regulation and disclosure are changing for boards and operators.
Professor Simon Pringle is an expert on sustainability and someone we have worked closely with on our carbon impact monitoring and reporting.
He has 28 years of experience in commercial strategy, innovation, and sustainability. He is an independent coach and management consultant and was formerly Managing Director of Project Rome, a consultancy working with blue-chip organisations and CleanTech innovators.
Watch the full episode above, or listen on your podcast platform via our Spotify page, or watch on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts.
Created from episode transcript
Sustainability Governance and Disclosure Pressures
Gain an understanding of how sustainability practices have evolved over the last 30 years, with insights from Simon Pringle, a veteran in the field.
Learn about the significance of Governance (G), Social (S), and Environmental (E) factors in sustainability, and why sometimes it is more effective to consider them as GSE, especially in financial services.
Discover how government interventions and regulations are shaping the sustainability landscape, pushing organisations towards more stringent and tangible commitments.
How Sustainability Practice Has Evolved
Pringle's work in the sector spans three decades, alongside many others who have shaped the field. The sustainability landscape has continuously evolved, balancing regulatory compliance with non-regulatory drivers.
Scrutiny has increased, particularly in reporting and transparency requirements. Non-regulatory factors such as supply chain pressures and customer expectations carry equal weight. The focus is shifting towards a more integrated, governance-led approach.
Larger organisations have often integrated sustainability well at their core, but less so at the operational edges. A major challenge is ensuring commitment permeates the whole organisation and shapes the day-to-day customer experience.
Governance and the ESG Hierarchy
In many sectors, especially financial services, the order of emphasis matters. Pringle argues that reversing the familiar acronym to GSE (Governance, Social, Environment) often makes more sense than ESG alone.
"Often we say ESG, but in many sectors, like financial services, reversing it to GSE (Governance, Social, Environment) makes more sense. Effective governance is the foundation for meaningful environmental and social programs. The interplay of these elements is crucial in shaping an organisation's sustainability agenda."
"For regulated firms, sustainability reporting only works when governance, data quality, and customer-facing disclosure align - otherwise ESG becomes a slide deck, not an operational practice."
Paul Holland, Founder and CEO, Beyond Encryption (Mailock)
Regulation, Disclosure, and Tangible Commitments
Government action is shaping how organisations set and prove progress. Actions such as carbon reduction targets and stronger sustainability disclosure standards sit alongside industry-led initiatives, including science-based targets.
Together, these drivers push organisations towards more robust and tangible sustainability commitments rather than surface-level statements.
Beyond the Boardroom
Outside his consulting work, Pringle plays bass and sings as part of a large rock gospel choir. Music has been a long-standing part of his life.
Asked what he would tell his younger self, he would focus on what truly drives passion and energy - being bold in expressing views and engaging deeply in inspiring work.
Guest Bio
Simon served on the UK and Global boards of a large PLC and was a Partner at PIPC, an international change management firm. He was then retained by BDO LLP, the world's 5th largest accountancy firm, as Head of Sustainability and Innovation.
An Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh Business School, Simon is an Associate Fellow of Chatham House and specialises in the alignment of sustainability and regenerative business models with commercial strategy, brand and reputation.
Choosing The Right Customer Channel?
Read our research on portals, logins, email, and post before deciding how customers should receive important documents.
Educated at the University of Durham and Imperial College, London, he is a Fellow of the RSA and is a Director of Solutions for the Planet (a not for profit focusing on children's innovation). He is co-founder of the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission and was part of the team that evolved the Integrated Reporting framework.
He is author of the IMechE guide to commercialising clean technology and designed the CBI innovation model. Alongside his role on the board of the Leeds City Region LEP, he served on the UK's Food Economy Task Force. Simon is on the advisory panel for Cranfield University and the Customer Engagement Groups for Northern Gas Networks and Northern PowerGrid.
FAQs
Who Is Professor Simon Pringle?
Professor Simon Pringle is an independent coach and management consultant with 28 years of experience in commercial strategy, innovation, and sustainability. He was formerly Managing Director of Project Rome and has held senior roles including Head of Sustainability and Innovation at BDO LLP.
What Does Gse Mean in Sustainability?
GSE stands for Governance, Social, and Environment. In the episode, Simon Pringle explains that in financial services and similar sectors, governance often needs to come first because it underpins meaningful social and environmental programmes.
How Are Governments Shaping Sustainability Commitments?
Pringle points to carbon reduction targets, stronger disclosure standards, and industry frameworks such as science-based targets as drivers that push organisations towards more tangible commitments.
Paul, CEO and Founder of Beyond Encryption, is an expert in digital identity, fintech, cybersecurity, and business. He developed Webline, a leading UK comparison engine, and now drives Mailock, Nigel, and AssureScore to help regulated businesses secure customer data.
Paul Holland
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