Burges Salmon’s ESG Learning and Development initiative has been nominated for two awards at the 2024 Learning Excellence Awards including in Outstanding Innovation and New Course or Training Initiative.
Understanding the place ESG lawyers have in the future, Burges Salmon developed and implemented a training programme to support its lawyers engage in authentic, impactful and values-driven ESG conversations with clients. Using a unique and innovative approach for the legal sector, combining traditional learning techniques, business development skills and coaching-style methods, the programme has proved ground-breaking, leading to more ESG instructions and closer relationships with clients. Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive with lawyers praising the programme for allowing them to ‘make connections on the basis of values’, ‘having more ESG conversations with both internal colleagues and external clients’ and ‘opening up possibilities’.
Marina Milner, head of people development at Burges Salmon, comments: “We’re thrilled to see our ESG training initiative nominated for two awards. Our programme was a real collaborative effort led by our Learning and Development, Marketing and ESG teams and the feedback we’ve received from our people has been outstanding. In the months since the programme, we have seen a significant impact on business development by way of new instructions, closer relationships with our clients and a broader understanding across the firm of ESG as we support our clients with navigating risks and unlocking opportunities.”
The programme supports Burges Salmon’s ESG offering and bespoke solutions – including an ESG Risk Review, Modern Slavery Statement compliance check and ESG Corporate Disclosure and ESG Pensions tools – all providing comprehensive and tailored guidance to help clients meet ESG goals and help them derive real value from them. Partner Michael Barlow is the firm's head of ESG.
The Learning Excellence Awards recognise the business training, learning and development sector. Winners will be announced on 16 April 2024.