Wolfestone Translation Ltd

Wolfestone is a multi-award winning Welsh company which aims to provide more than the average translation services in 200 languages, to raise the standards of the language services industry, and to be innovative and ethical. Whilst translation is the core business, Wolfestone has developed a series of complimentary language services that add to the diversity of operations including multi-lingual voiceovers and desktop publishing, interpreting, transcription, proofreading, subtitling, certified and notarised translation.

It regularly carries out translation work for organisations such as the BBC, Which?, WAG, European Union, MTV, Unilever, Thales, Admiral, Adecco, IBM, NHS and BT.

Wolfestone is the youngest company ever to sit on the National Council of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC), the trade body for translation companies in the UK, and its Co-CEO is also the President of the Association.

Origins

Wolfestone Translation was envisaged by the two entrepreneurs (Roy Allkin and Anna Bastek). Roy’s experience in business development and Anna’s sales and marketing expertise seemed a natural fit. They saw an opportunity, most translation companies were founded and run by translators; this often means that they have a technician’s approach to business, not a business approach. They tend to grow slowly and never to achieve full potential. In contrast, Wolfestone owners leave the technical translation to the professionals they employ. They can therefore work on business strategy, business improvements and customer service, etc. As a result Wolfestone is now an incredibly successful and thriving business and regularly launches new services.

Main challenges when starting the business

Over the first three years the major challenges involved investing in technology (funding everything organically and ensuring the right technology decisions were taken), managing growth and ensuring that the company had the right staff with the right attitude to be part of the Wolfestone vision.

Success factors

The three main factors that have contributed to the growth of Wolfestone Translation have been the investment in marketing, technology and staff. Despite the global recession, Wolfestone has decided to invest heavily in online marketing which has had massive benefits and allowed the firm to obtain market share from competitors. In terms of technology, Wolfestone has developed a bespoke powerful information tool to connect projects and resources from any location, efficiently and effectively. Finally, there has been considerable investment invested in continuous professional development for staff and Wolfestone is Investors in People company and staff loyalty, development and care means that clients always get excellent service – with a smile! Wolfestone Translation is a multi-award winning certified translation provider accredited by the Association of Translation Companies (Home Office approved). Wolfestone Translation is independently certified with the new British Standard EN 15038. This is an industry-specific standard which covers the unique challenges involved in delivering high quality translation services. We are one of a very few translation companies who are additionally independently certified with ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004. All our project managers are qualified through the Association of Project Managers. How many other translation companies can say that?

The future?

The founders see Wolfestone as being a truly global enterprise and global expansion is key to its development over the next three years. Translation, voiceovers and other language services are required across the planet and Wolfestone has an ideal mix of global reach and local service, and the company has worked hard to develop its worldwide network of 6000 translators and state of the art recording facilities.

Sector: Professional language translation

Established: 2006

Growth: 169.3%