Business Spotlight: Business Language Services

Business Language Services, a leading provider of professional translation and language solutions, continues to make its mark on the global stage. With the recent opening of their Glasgow office, the company has expanded beyond its Welsh roots, further establishing its expertise in Welsh, Gaelic, and a multitude of other languages. Supported by a worldwide network of skilled linguists, Business Language Services is perfectly positioned to help businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of communication in a globalised world.

Business Language Services joined GlobalWelsh's Business Membership Programme in April 2024. We caught up with Customer Service Manager Lizzie De Benedicts to find out more...

Tell us about Business Language Services…

Business Language Services is a professional translation and language services company for businesses and individuals. We initially established ourselves in Abergavenny in 1990 but in 2010, we relocated to Cardiff. In 2020 we moved to a new, centrally located office, making it even easier for customers across the Welsh capital and beyond to access our broad range of services. We have also recently expanded our presence in the UK, opening our first office outside Wales, in Glasgow, further reinforcing our specialisation for Welsh and Gaelic translations, as well as many other languages.

Our clients are mostly businesses operating across a wide range of sectors, including charities and healthcare. We’re renowned for our dedication to quality, holding ISO certification and memberships of several professional bodies. Our emphasis on excellence and focus on specialised linguistic services have made us a trusted partner for a vast range of clients across the UK and overseas. We also offer certified translation services for the general public, translating many different legal documents such as birth certificates, divorce papers and identity documents.

We ensure that the linguists assigned to each project have a deep understanding of the relevant field. For example, we have a dedicated team of legal translators who are highly knowledgeable about the legal profession and its terminology. Similarly, our medical and life sciences projects, such as manuals and packaging, are handled by linguists with expertise in medical terminology and industry practices. 

How is Business Language Services connecting globally?

Our business is deeply connected globally, both through our linguists and our clients. We seek to work with the best, and so all our linguists translate exclusively into their native language. This international network allows us to support clients wherever they operate and ensures that our translations are perfectly tailored to the intended target market.

While our primary customer base is in the UK, we also attract business from all over the world and have past or ongoing partnerships with clients on every continent. Many of our international connections stem from starting work with companies who have UK offices, who then refer us to their global partners. Ultimately, any company operating internationally or engaging in exports is likely to need language support, and we are well-positioned to meet that demand.

What services do you provide? 

We offer a comprehensive range of language services designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients. As you’d expect, our key services include translation and interpreting, but we can also provide other linguistic services such as proofreading, localisation, subtitling and transcription. We also frequently provide certified translations of official documents. 

We have also recently relaunched our language training services, partnering with Peartree Languages for English teaching, and Lighthouse Spanish Academy for Spanish courses, both located near our Cardiff office.

The language services landscape is constantly evolving, and so are we. We have recently expanded our services to include AI-driven language solutions. With a strong client base and a focus on growth and innovation, we continue to explore new opportunities in language services, making sure we meet the evolving needs of businesses engaged in international operations.

Give us a fun fact about Business Language Services?

A fun fact and one of our standout achievements was providing Welsh subtitles for a Hollywood film on Netflix. It was a real milestone because it was among the first films on the platform to feature Welsh subtitles. This project, completed in-house by our talented Welsh linguists in Cardiff, was not only a unique and exciting opportunity for our team but also a culturally significant accomplishment. It was a refreshing change from our day-to-day work and a proud moment for everyone involved, highlighting our expertise in Welsh language services. 

Why did you join GlobalWelsh and what connections are you making?

We were introduced to GlobalWelsh at an export event organised by the Welsh Government, and it just seemed like a perfect fit for us. The decision was an easy one for two main reasons. Firstly, the Welsh element is central to what we do, as we provide extensive Welsh translation and interpreting services. Secondly, the opportunity to connect with a global network of Welsh people, businesses and suppliers was incredibly appealing. Having a shared connection to Wales and access to a supportive network around the world made GlobalWelsh stand out. 

Since becoming a member, we’ve found clients through the Business Directory on GlobalWelsh Connect by identifying businesses that align with our services. For example, medical companies needing translations for manuals in multiple languages, as well as many other very valuable connections.

What are you currently working on and what are your future goals?

We are on a growth journey and our focus for the next year will be both expanding our operations and adapting to industry advancements such as AI. Recently, we acquired another language business in Telford, which is currently operating independently of Business Language Services. A key priority is to grow this new business while continuing to strengthen and expand our core Business Language Services business. We are also exploring the possibility of extending our presence to new locations, similar to our successful expansion in Glasgow.

As the language services industry evolves, technological advancements, particularly in AI, remain a critical focus. Over the past few years, we’ve developed a package of AI-assisted services designed to ensure that clients can enjoy the time and efficiency benefits of AI in their translations, complemented by a thorough review by our expert human linguists to guarantee accuracy and quality. While AI tools like Google Translate are widely recognised, they often fall short for professional use, and we aim to bridge that gap by offering robust AI-assisted services with the essential human touch. Our goal is to stay at the forefront of these developments while maintaining the quality and personalisation that clients expect from us.

Business Language Services is offering a 10% Discount on Translation Services when you quote GLOBALWELSH10.

Are you:

• Looking to promote your product or services to a global audience? 
• Need to communicate with customers in their native language?
• Want to break down language barriers?
• Looking to improve your Welsh language offering?

Business Language Services can help you communicate in all world languages – from Arabic to Zulu, and everything in between! For a personalised quote tailored to your needs, just head over to https://businesslanguageservices.co.uk/get-a-quote/