Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are no longer “nice to have” — they’re central to investment decision-making. But gathering good ESG data remains a big hurdle. Reporting frameworks are complex and shifting, and much of the data that should inform decisions is fragmented, unstructured, or hard to verify. That’s especially true for many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often lack the resources to produce the kind of ESG reports investors expect.

That’s where PortF steps in.

What the Innovate UK Case Study Shows

A recent case study by Innovate UK and Business Connect - 'PortF: Transforming ESG Reporting for Financial Services' - outlines how portfolio monitoring software from PortF is making ESG reporting more accessible, accurate and useful:

• AI-Driven Data Integration & Dashboarding
  PortF has developed a portfolio monitoring platform that leverages artificial intelligence to collect, clean, and analyse ESG and financial data from multiple sources. The system helps businesses and investors to see meaningful, comparable insights.

• Scope 3 Emissions & Carbon Calculator
  A robust carbon calculator forms part of the toolkit, enabling reporting on Scope 3 emissions. This is often one of the trickiest pieces of the ESG puzzle, and something many companies struggle to capture.

• Customisable Dashboard & Analytics
  Users can personalise the dashboard and reporting analytics, meaning ESG goals, metrics and outputs are more aligned to their specific strategy and stakeholder expectations.

• Supporting SMEs & Investors
  The case study emphasises the barriers many SMEs face when trying to access ESG-focused capital. By simplifying data collection and providing tools that support transparent, consistent reporting, PortF helps SMEs become more “investable.” For investors and fund managers, the benefit is better comparability and more reliable verification of ESG credentials.

• Collaboration & Recognition
  The project was developed with partners including NextWave Consulting, Pinsent Masons LLP, and the University of the West of England. It has also won recognition: for example, PortF was named Solution Provider of the Year (ESG) at the Private Equity Wire European Awards 2025.

• Funding & Impact
  The initiative received £715,162 in funding, supporting PortF to expand its team, enhance the data analytics capabilities, and scale the solution. This funding helped accelerate development and broaden the platform’s ambition.

Why It Matters

• For Companies / SMEs: Getting ESG reporting right isn’t just about compliance. It can unlock access to capital, build trust with stakeholders, and help improve internal sustainability performance. Tools that reduce the overhead and complexity are critical.

• For Investors & Funds: Reliable, transparent ESG data enables better risk assessment, supports regulatory compliance, and helps in crafting portfolios aligned with sustainability goals.

• For the Market as a Whole: Standardisation, transparency, and better tools help move ESG reporting from a box-ticking exercise to a driver of real impact.

If you’d like to read the full case study, including technical details, project outcomes, and further insights, you can find it here: Innovate UK – PortF: Transforming ESG Reporting for Financial Services