The Translation People begins Paris expansion

A COMPANY which provides a wide range of translation and interpretation services has launched an office in Paris to deal with its rapidly growing French client base.

It will be the Translation People’s first office outside the UK, and the move reflects its ambitious plans to grow both domestic and overseas business.

The company is currently headquartered in Didsbury, in Greater Manchester, and its clients include industrial, pharmaceutical and marketing businesses, as well as some well-known luxury consumer brands.

The new office, located in the heart of the Boulogne Billancourt business district, will be headed up by Karen Mariet, a seasoned translation specialist with 25 years’ experience of working in the French capital. 

The development follows strong year-on-year growth for The Translation People since it launched under a new brand and independent ownership in September 2008. 

The business has since increased its revenues by 25% – despite the recession – and last year took on 60 new overseas customers.

David Nichols, director of The Translation People, said that he forecasts a further 60% increase in ‘export activity’ this year.

He said: “Establishing our first overseas office is a significant milestone in our ongoing expansion drive, which is helping us to build a globally recognised brand.

“During the last two years we’ve doubled the number of countries we export our services to and we currently have clients in 24 countries around the world.

“Until now, all have been managed by our UK-based teams, supported by an extensive network of native speakers around the globe.

“However, increasing demand from the French market – and the competitive value of the euro against sterling – has prompted us to launch an office in Paris.”

The Translation People used the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Passport to Export scheme to support its French venture.

Mr Nichols said: “There is good support available for UK companies that are looking to do business overseas – and it is great to be putting our business ethos into practice, by proactively targeting foreign markets.”

The opening of the new office follows the launch last year of a French version of The Translation People’s website.