Transcription News for August 2026 from The Typing Works Limited. Articles on the high cost of court transcription, invoicing before the year end and spotlight on a charity donation. Specialist academic & business transcription & translation services for all languages, established in 2001, part of a B Corp company and 1% For the Planet member. Our company donates 10% of annual profits to charity via the Ten Percent Foundation. For details of our company please visit www.thetypingworks.com. We produce a monthly news round up of our research projects, charity donations and work. Click here for an instant online quote.
Academic Year End – Financial Budget Reminder
As the end of the financial year approaches, many university clients find themselves in a familiar position: budgets that must be spent before the deadline or returned to central funds. We have over 20 years’ experience handling this. If there are any departments looking to allocate remaining amounts before year-end, commissioning transcription work with us now can ensure that your budget is protected. Contact Rebecca Hughes to discuss further.
Court Transcripts – Inaccessible and Unaffordable
Court transcripts play a vital role in the justice system, yet many people still struggle to access them quickly and affordably. Growing political interest in improving access to court records has brought renewed attention to the challenges within the current transcription model. The Typing Works supports a modern, transparent and human led approach that reflects how transcription is carried out today.
The Importance of Reliable Court Transcripts
Victims, litigants in person and members of the public rely on transcripts to follow proceedings and ensure fairness. Despite this, obtaining a transcript often involves high costs, long waits and complex administrative steps. Most requests still require form EX107 and payment based on a pricing structure that has not kept pace with digital transcription practices. In some cases, approval from a judge is also needed before a transcript can be released.
Why Current Court Transcript Pricing Needs Reform
One of the biggest barriers to accessible court transcription is the outdated folio pricing system. A folio is defined as 72 words. Costs are calculated by counting how many folios appear in the final transcript. This method was designed for paper based transcription dating back to Victorian times and does not reflect modern digital workflows. Professional transcription companies now price work by the recorded minute. Clients know the cost upfront based on the length of the audio. Uncertainty is created by the folio system as the final price depends on how many words are spoken rather than the duration of the hearing. It also results in significantly higher costs than those found in legal and business transcription outside the court system.
Limited Supplier Access Restricts Innovation
Only authorised transcription companies can produce official court transcripts. The Ministry of Justice and HMCTS award large framework contracts for transcription and court reporting. These contracts involve strict compliance requirements, high volumes of audio and detailed operational rules. While these frameworks are important, they often favour a small number of large suppliers. Many skilled UK transcription providers are unable to participate, not because they lack expertise, but because the procurement structure is difficult to access.
Human Accuracy Is Still Essential in Court Transcription
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in transcription, but it cannot replace human judgement in legal contexts. Court audio is often challenging. Speakers overlap. Technical terminology is used frequently. Names, case references and confidential details must be handled with precision. Automated transcripts without human review are rarely suitable for legal use. A modern transcription model should combine technology with human oversight. Hybrid transcription allows AI to support efficiency while experienced transcribers and proofreaders ensure accuracy, confidentiality and correct formatting.
What a Modern Court Transcription System Should Deliver
A reformed court transcription model would include: clear pricing based on recorded minutes, faster and more accessible transcript requests, a wider pool of approved suppliers and human checked transcripts supported by appropriate technology.
The Typing Works already provides secure and accurate transcription for legal, academic, medical, research and public sector clients. Our workflows prioritise confidentiality, careful speaker identification and high quality human transcription.
Improving Access to Justice Through Better Transcription
The discussion about free court transcripts reflects a wider concern about transparency in the justice system. Access to justice depends on access to the record. If individuals cannot afford to obtain a transcript, they cannot fully understand or challenge what happened in court. Modern pricing, broader supplier participation and human led hybrid transcription would create a more accessible and fair system for everyone.
New Live Transcription Service
The Typing Works provides professional live transcription services for companies, government bodies, universities, research organisations and other institutions that need an accurate written record of meetings, interviews, hearings, conferences and events. Our experienced UK transcription team can provide:
- On-site live transcription at your premises or event venue
- Off-site live transcription through an approved remote connection
- Live note taking and near real-time transcription
- Immediate draft transcripts
- Fully checked and professionally formatted transcripts
- Human transcription for confidential or sensitive work
- Secure alternatives where remote attendance required, or cloud-based recording is not permitted
On-Site Live Transcription Services
For on-site transcription, one of our professional transcribers attends your meeting, interview, conference or event in person. The transcriber listens to the discussion and produces a live written record using equipment agreed with the client in advance. The transcriber can work from within the meeting room, from an adjacent secure room or from another controlled area at the venue. Where permitted, we recommend making a secure audio recording in addition to the live transcript. A checked and polished version can then be produced within an agreed turnaround period, often within 60 minutes (depending on the length). We can arrange the audio recording as part of the service. This is a bespoke service – contact us to discuss your requirements.
The Typing Works is able to assist with all aspects of live transcription, including on-site and off-site transcription and live note-taking. Very popular in particular where there is a need for highly sensitive data handling or for audio recordings to remain onsite. Our specialist team are BPSS & DBS checked. To discuss your requirements please contact Rebecca Hughes here: https://thetypingworks.com/contact/
£1000 Donation to Blood Bikes
SERV Ox Bucks Berks N’hants Blood Bikes has been nominated for a £1,000 donation from the Ten Percent Foundation, partly funded by profits donated from The Typing Works Limited.
SERV OBN is a volunteer-run charity supporting NHS hospitals across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Northamptonshire. Its volunteers provide a rapid-response courier service, using a dedicated fleet of motorcycles and 4×4 vehicles to transport blood products and other urgent medical items to where they are needed. The service operates outside normal working hours, helping hospitals avoid the cost of taxis and commercial couriers while ensuring essential supplies can continue to move quickly between NHS sites. The charity also supports neonatal units by collecting and delivering donated human milk.
SERV OBN’s work is carried out by trained volunteers. Riders and drivers are given specialist instruction, including guidance on the correct handling of blood products and familiarisation visits to key hospital collection and delivery points.
The organisation has over 100 volunteers and provides its rapid-response motorcycle courier service to the NHS free of charge, relying on charitable support to maintain its vehicles, equipment, insurance and operational work. SERV OBN is an excellent example of volunteers using their time and skills to provide a practical service with a direct benefit to patients and local NHS teams. Every journey helps medical professionals access important supplies promptly, often during evenings, nights and weekends.
For further information about the work of the charity, please visit their website here: https://serv-obn.org.uk/
What is this all about?
The Typing Works donates 10% of annual net profits to charity via the Ten Percent Foundation, a charitable trust set up by our group of companies to distribute monies to charities in the UK and Africa. The Foundation never incurs any administration costs other than minimal bank charges. All monies donated are distributed to charities and community organisations.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our newsletter and look forward to hearing from you if we can assist further. You can request an instant quotation for our services here.
Kind regards
Rebecca Hughes (she/her), Manager, The Typing Works Limited | E: info@thetypingworks.co.uk
www.thetypingworks.com | Tel: 0208 087 4187
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