Winners of UKTI Award

Winners of UKTI Award

Applied Language Solutions, one of the leading international translation and interpretation companies, has been recognised for its successful global expansion by being awarded the UK Trade and Investment 'Best Exporter 2007' award.

A delighted Gavin said: "We are honoured to have won this award against some stiff competition. This is real vindication of our company and its achievements and it will be a great morale booster for our team who are located all around the world."

"Outsourcing operations internationally combined with the use of technology is essentially what enables Applied Language to provide translation and interpretation services with optimal price, quality and delivery. Winning the prestigious 'Best Exporter' Award is a reflection of the success that can be achieved by taking advantage of the opportunities available overseas. This proves that people are beginning to recognise that our way to do business is the right way to do business."

Certainly deserving of the award, the hard work put into developing the company's global operations has seen Applied Language enjoy organic and meteoric growth on an international scale. Since Applied Language was established just over three years ago, Gavin has driven his company from being a one-man operation in his back bedroom into a company that boasts seven offices worldwide. Including Huddersfield, California, Paris, Barcelona, Bulgaria, Guatemala and Chennai, with Hong Kong being the eighth. Gavin has also seen his company develop into a 60-strong workforce proud to serve big named customers including Nike, United Nations and Robbie Williams.

Recent projects have ranged from translating press releases for Weber Shandwick and legal documents for the Crown Prosecution Service to be presented in the High Court. Applied Language have also recently organised and managed a telephone conference service for Shell using the BT network, the first project of its kind and scale in the industry. This involved simultaneously interpreting Shell's financial results into 13 different languages to over 4,000 attendees across 26 different countries.

Applied Language recognises the importance of expanding into overseas markets, particularly as today's business environment is increasingly being governed by globalisation. Emerging countries, such as China, are fast becoming dominant in the world economy, and in the next 20 years will account for 30 per cent of world trade.

Such changes in international trade have greatly influenced Applied Language's most recent move to develop its operations in Asia as part of the company's strategy to increase global presence.

With a view to act quickly, Applied Language harnessed the talents of its staff and the assistance of UKTI's international trade advisers to open up their most recent office in Chennai, India, with another office opening in Hong Kong this month. Further plans include expanding into mainland China later in the year.

Gavin said: "Strengthening our presence in the Asian market puts us in the perfect position to provide translation and interpreting services to companies in India to support their overseas trade activities, as well as to international organisations based in or entering the Asian market looking to trade locally."

"This is the perfect time for us to expand into Asia. Having a presence in Asia will give us a huge advantage. The fast-growing Asian economy offers fantastic business opportunities for Applied Language and will give us almost 24 hour global coverage, meaning our customers will have access to our services at any time of the day."

However, what Gavin identifies is that some British businesses are slow in responding to competitive pressures created as global markets begin to operate 24 hours a day. According to Wheeldon: "UK businesses must begin to look at trading overseas soon to avoid losing out on opportunities in this huge international market."

"British businesses must realise that globalistion isn't a threat. Rather be prepared to look beyond our borders to achieve economic growth, or risk being excluded from global trade. By outsourcing around the globe whilst also selling products and services outside of the UK, we can all benefit from a far bigger choice of quality resources and access the best people available."

UK Trade & Investment's Regional International Trade Director Mark Robson said: "This years winners show the impressive range of companies working in the Yorkshire & Humber region, and the diversity of entrepreneurial spirit which drives their founders."

"Tonight we have rewarded an established, major employer; a translation and interpretation company founded only three years ago, and a technology company which is harnessing the research talent of one of our leading universities. They demonstrate that with UKTI's expert advice and its global support network behind them, companies can expand their international business faster, further and smarter."

For press and media enquiries please call:
Stacey Rose - PR Executive on +44 (0)870 225 0243 or email srose@appliedlanguage.com