Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the Best Use of Technology at the Investors in People Awards 2024, which took place in London on Wednesday 13 November.
This accolade recognises Burges Salmon’s innovative approach to integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and assistive technologies within its Learning and Development team, significantly enhancing efficiency and inclusivity across the firm.
Revolutionising video production with AI
Burges Salmon’s winning submission highlighted the transformative impact of the Descript AI Video Editor on its video production process. By leveraging Descript's advanced features, the firm has:
- Removed filler words: automatically, making its videos more polished and professional.
- Adjusted eye contact: enhancing the visual appeal of its videos, ensuring a more engaging viewer experience
- Utilised AI voice cloning: filling gaps in recordings or generating entire sections from scratch, eliminating the need for re-recording
- Maximised AI-powered features: including voice generation and background noise removal, helping create polished videos quickly, even if the initial recording conditions were less than ideal.
These innovations have drastically reduced the time required for video production, allowing Burges Salmon to focus on creative and strategic tasks, thereby improving overall productivity and content quality.
Promoting inclusivity with the ‘Designed for All’ initiative
In addition to the firm’s AI advancements, Burges Salmon has made significant strides in digital accessibility through its ‘Designed for All’ initiative. This programme ensures that assistive technology is universally available to all of the firm’s people, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Key achievements include:
- Increased adoption: expanding access from 15 licenses to over 120 users
- Proactive communication: sharing information about accessible technologies with new starters to foster an open culture and encourage discussions about neurodiversity
- Inclusive environment: promoting diversity and empowering all of its people through innovative technology solutions.
Impact and Future Goals
The implementation of these technologies has revolutionised video production across multiple departments at Burges Salmon, including Learning and Development, Marketing, and Diversity and Inclusion. The ‘Designed for All’ initiative has significantly raised awareness about available assistive technologies, ensuring the firm’s digital content is accessible to all of its people and fostering an inclusive working environment.
Alice Bretherton, Chief People Officer at Burges Salmon, comments: "Winning the Best Use of Technology award is a testament to our commitment to innovation and inclusivity. By integrating AI tools and promoting digital accessibility, we have not only enhanced our efficiency but also created a more inclusive environment for all of our people. This award reflects the hard work and progressive thinking of our teams, who are always seeking to embrace new ideas and continuously improve, and we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved."
Burges Salmon’s forward-thinking strategy includes continuous exploration of new AI advancements and assistive technologies to sustain and amplify its success. Burges Salmon is committed to maintaining its leadership in digital accessibility and AI integration, ensuring that the firm remains at the forefront of technological innovation.