Hut Group snaps up language translation company

Online retail specialist The Hut Group has acquired a language translation company.

The Manchester based firm has acquired Language Connect for an undisclosed amount.

Language Connect was founded in 2003 by Ben and Iwona Taylor and has grown rapidly to become a international language services provider.

The business has a blue-chip customer base of over 900 organisations which includes Thomson Reuters, Twenty First Century Fox and Norton Rose Fulbright.

IT also works with several of the world’s largest market research organisations and has offices in London, New York, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Melbourne.

The acquisition means The Hut Group will be able to expand into the online translation sector.

Matthew Moulding, the founder and chief executive of The Hut Group, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the Language Connect team to THG.

“In Language Connect, we have made a significant investment which supports our international growth plans; making translation more efficient for our customers around the globe.

“It also marks another step in the growth of our proprietary technology platform, THG Ingenuity, following the acquisitions of UK2 and Hangar Seven last year. We expect to make additional investments this year to grow the platform further.”

Ben Taylor, co-founder of Language Connect said: “I am thrilled that Language Connect is becoming part of THG and integrated into its Ingenuity platform.

“I have closely followed the growth of THG as one of the UK’s leading technology companies and particularly its impressive expansion into international territories.

“I am confident in the group’s ability to accelerate the business forward and create exceptional
opportunities for our people in this exciting new chapter.”

In May The Hut Group announced that it profits soared by more than 50% last year and expects to create 2,000 jobs over the next 12 months.

Group sales up were 47% to £736m and international sales were up 62% to £512m.
The firm also announced that it was in the market for acquisions.