Socially Responsible Language Services
How Green is Your Translation?
The environment is something we take very seriously at Applied Language Solutions. So seriously in fact, that we are the only translation and interpreting agency in the world to be accredited with ISO 14001 for Environmental Management.
Paperless Office Pledge
All of our sites around the world are as near as they can be to being paperless. Each member of our staff is provided with laptop computers and communicate using phone, email and internet, and many documents are stored and worked on using the cloud.
We go the extra mile to ensure that only documents that really do need printing are produced.
Re-cycling Points in Every Office
Each office has plenty of paper only bins which make sure that there is no excuse for not re-cycling paper waste. The same goes for any glass, plastic and other recyclable materials.
Internet Meetings and Presentations
As a company ALS is a big believer in holding meetings over the internet in order to cut down on fuel consumption and to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible. As a technology-led business the web-based technology we use means that we can hold meetings and presentations online, and share exactly what’s on our screens with you. It’s a great way to let you know all about us or demonstrate our web services.
Online meetings also allow us to meet with people who may be in different parts of the world – without the need for air travel. We are working towards becoming a Carbon Neutral business over the coming years.
Social Responsibility in Language Services
Giving Back to the Global Community
At Applied Language Solutions we believe that business success needs to be balanced with giving something back – both in terms of donating time and money. Since 2003 we have undertaken a variety of projects to give back to the communities in which we work.
We actively raise money for charities through company organized events and by supporting individual members of staff in anything they want to do for charity. One of the ways we do this is to allow all staff the option of taking a paid holiday to help out at local charities. The takeover by Capita in December 2011 will not change our commitment to our business in the community policy, and indeed it strengthens our ability to support community initiatives.
Treating Everyone Fairly – Equal Opportunities
We ensure that we treat everyone fairly at ALS. All of our employees, whether they are full time, part time or freelance are covered by our equal opportunities policy.
This is vital as our linguists live ‘in-country’ and have different standards of living. We ensure that we don’t exploit our linguists and pay them the going rate for the country they live in. This is managed by allowing our translators to enter their own rates in our dedicated database.
Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
Applied Language Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This means that we extend equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their for race, religion, skin colour, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation and/or marital status.
This policy means that everyone who works for Applied Language Solutions and applicants for roles within Applied Language Solutions can expect to be treated fairly and consistently – the same way as everyone else in the company – and thus will have the same access to the opportunities available in the company.
Working with International Business Students
SHU international research programme
ALS has built a mutual relationship with Sheffield Hallam University for a number of years now, working alongside tutors and students from the International Business School on a number of different projects offering an insight into taking research out of the classroom and into a real life business setting.
Some of the projects have included research into international digital marketing in South Eastern Asia, expansion opportunities and advice for customers of our Export Box product who might be investing in foreign markets. All of the students involved in the projects have come from different countries and cultures to study at the university so their vast knowledge of cultural differences, both in social and business environments is of great use to companies such as ALS and its customers. So far projects have covered the United Arab Emirates, China and India, with a view to covering more regions in coming months.
As well as getting a view into what the research requirements of a successful, international business might be the students also benefit from various members of the ALS team giving their time to guest lecture at the university on topics such as dealing with international Human Resource issues, managing projects across multiple countries and commercial approaches pitching for business in different countries.
In addition to gaining access to unique research ALS are given the research be the partaking students to then put on the website. This gives the students to opportunity to have their research read by businesses visiting the ALS website or for the content to be found on networking sites such as Slideshare..
“The work our students do with Applied Languages gives them invaluable insight into working with a local company with a global outlook. I would also like to say that the support you give our students really helps them to develop vital business skills. We at the Sheffield Business School also hope that we can develop a long-term relationship which will be of mutual benefit.” – Clare Moonan, Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University Business School.