Frequently asked questions
Is SRCF another reporting standard?
No. SRCF describes the competence of people who perform sustainability reporting work. It does not tell an organisation what it must disclose.
Does SRCF replace GRI, ISSB or ESRS?
No. Practitioners still need the applicable reporting instruments. SRCF helps define the capability needed to interpret and implement them responsibly.
Is the framework final?
No. The current version is a Working Draft. A first full technical review pass over it is complete — all 81 units and all 102 review questions, 20 evidenced comments, both Critical findings resolved — but that pass was run in-house, not by independent reviewers. Independent review and employer validation are still ahead. Every page says so.
Has the framework been reviewed yet?
Yes — and precisely this much. On 14 August 2026 a first full technical review pass covered all 81 competency units, all 72 domain review questions and all 30 cross-domain questions, producing 20 evidenced comments: 2 Critical, 16 Major, 2 Minor. Its recommended unit outcomes were 61 no change, 10 editorial edits and 10 revise before approval. Both Critical findings are resolved by identifier repair IDR-1, applied on 22 August 2026; the 16 Major findings are content work in progress, and none of the 20 has been formally dispositioned, because disposition is a Council gate that has not been reached. That pass was run in-house and prepared for the Secretariat: no reviewer signed a conflicts and independence declaration and no formal review gate has moved, so it is not independent review, assurance, certification or a Technical Council opinion. A second and much narrower review in September 2026 covered the register overview only and produced 20 accepted title revisions. The independent round, with appointed external reviewers and signed declarations, has not run yet.
What can I use it for right now?
Reading, self-assessment, job descriptions, internal team review and curriculum mapping — free, including internal corporate use. See Use it today.
Can I become a reviewer?
Yes — the independent round has not run yet, and registration of interest is open now. Qualified practitioners, employers, educators and specialists may apply. Appointment is selective and subject to expertise, availability, confidentiality and conflict review. The completed first pass does not close the round; it is the starting material for it.
Will reviewer names be public?
Only with consent. Approved reviewers may opt into a public directory.
Will review comments be published?
Comments from the completed first pass are summarised by severity on the review page; the full comment record goes to appointed reviewers with their pack, not to the public. Independent-review comments are likewise normally confidential during a cycle. A later public-consultation process may publish moderated comments and formal responses.
Does SRCF certify people?
No — SRCF certifies no one. No person, course or institution is SRCF-certified, accredited or aligned, and no such status has been granted to anyone. Assessment and credential design are future workstreams, governed by the separate Assessment and Credentials Board and dependent on employer evidence, assessment design and psychometric review; they will be piloted before anything is claimed.
Does working to SRCF make a report audit-ready?
No — and avoid any claim that implies it. A competent practitioner can help design and operate an evidence-ready reporting process; independent assurance remains separate. Note the wording too: while SRCF is a Working Draft, no person, course or organisation holds “SRCF-aligned” status — that claim requires the exact status granted in writing by London Reporting Academy under a published scheme.
Can my company use SRCF internally without paying?
Yes — for every organisation, of any kind. Job descriptions, capability review, development planning and training your own staff by your own staff are all free internal use. One condition: artefacts materially built on SRCF must carry the reference statement ('Developed with reference to the Sustainability Reporting Competency Framework (SRCF), version X, a London Reporting Academy framework').
Can I teach about SRCF in a paid course?
Yes. Independent teaching about SRCF, academic analysis and curriculum mapping are permitted without a licence — including in fee-charging programmes. Charging tuition does not by itself trigger a licence: the trigger is the activity. What does need a written licence: official or SRCF-branded delivery, official courseware, substantial reproduction, assessment products, and any claim of alignment, approval or partnership.
Can I say my course is SRCF-certified?
No. 'SRCF-certified', 'accredited', 'approved' and 'endorsed' are prohibited unless the exact claim is granted in writing under a published scheme. 'Developed with reference to SRCF' is the free claim; 'based on SRCF' or 'SRCF-aligned' require a written licence or status grant. And never use ® with SRCF — the ® symbol is reserved for marks actually registered and authorised in current brand guidance.
Who owns SRCF?
SRCF is a London Reporting Academy framework: London Reporting Academy Limited owns the framework and administers copyright, database right, trade marks and licensing. The operative terms are the SRCF Public Reference and Adoption Licence, published with each applicable release.
Why does the framework include AI?
AI and digital tools are changing reporting work. Domain I covers responsible use, source verification and model governance — because that is now part of the job.
Question not covered? Ask it as a challenge — it goes on the record.