Applied Language Solutions secures £1.4m investment

TRANSLATION business Applied Language Solutions has received up to £1.4m funding to support its growth and development.

The Oldham business has received the money from the Investment from Capital for Enterprise Fund managed by Maven Capital Partners.

The investment will support Applied Language Solutions’ development plans as one of the leading and fastest growing translation, proof reading and interpreting service providers in the world.

Applied Language Solutions was established in 2003 by chief executive, Gavin Wheeldon, and it now has access to 16,500 in-country linguists globally covering more than 150 different languages. 

The business employs over 100 staff across 11 offices in nine countries and it lists Google, Caterpillar, GE and the NHS among its customers.

The £75m Capital for Enterprise Fund is a government backed initiative launched in 2009 to help small and medium size enterprises (“SMEs”) in the UK gain access to the financial support required to bridge the funding gap caused by the credit crisis.

In April 2009, it was announced that £60m from the CfE Fund would be allocated to two separate £30m funds, one of which is managed by Maven, which has an office in Charlotte Street in Manchester.

A further £15m is being managed as a co-investment fund by Capital for Enterprise Fund managers.

Gavin Wheeldon chief executive of Applied Language Solutions, said, “This investment will allow us to implement our strategic growth plan, which will take us into several new geographic territories in the coming months.

“To do this we will increase our sales presence both in existing offices and through additional recruitment in other countries, which will enable us to target growth markets, such as South America and Asia more effectively. 

“The CfE fund’s investment was ideal for Applied Language Solutions and the team at Maven has been extremely supportive of our plans, we look forward to showing them the results of the investment in the coming months.”

Ryan Bevington, senior investment manager at Maven, said, “Applied Language Solutions is an excellent business, providing high quality translation and interpreting services to an impressive client base. 

“Gavin Wheeldon and the management team have exciting plans for the business and Maven is delighted to be able to provide this investment from the CfE Fund to help the team achieve their strategic vision.

“This again demonstrates the value of the CfE fund in supporting ambitious UK businesses like Applied Language Solutions.”