Language company bucks the recessional trend

(SANEPR.com) December 17, 2008 -- Thatcham-based language services company Prestige Network is bucking the recessional trend with a phenomenal 40 per cent financial growth this year.

The company, which is on target for 100 per cent growth in 2008/2009, has been growing steadily since its inception 17 years ago, but this year represented a landmark period in the company’s history.

Since this summer, Prestige Network has:
• Increased its staff base to 26.
• Boosted the number of clients on its books to 1,000.
• Augmented the number of linguists it uses to 5,000.
• Doubled the square footage of its office space by expanding into premises next door.

Business Development Director Shawn Khorassani said: “By identifying potential obstacles that may restrict access to foreign nationals, many public and commercial organisations have begun to see the benefits in providing information media for non-English speaking audiences. Language services give companies a huge competitive advantage.

“Another reason for the leap in annual growth is the increased demand for language services in general. This is symptomatic of the need to meet the country’s continually expanding and diversifying language base.”

More spacious offices, which are currently being fitted out, are just one of the benefits of working for a successful company. Staff at Prestige Network were rewarded for their success this summer with a permanent change in working hours – now they only have to work for 37 hours a week rather than 40.

Shawn said: “We felt at the same time as expanding into premises next door to cope with current growth and ensure capacity for future growth that we would recognise that it’s the hard work of our staff which has put us in this fortunate position – we therefore rewarded them with a permanent change in their working hours from 40 to 37

“The future is looking good for us and we are on target for 100 per cent growth in 2008/2009, which is not something which can be said for many companies in the current financial climate. We are also starting to offer bespoke training and educational courses in various languages for organisations”

Prestige Network’s most recent major success was the award (in November 2008) of a framework contract by the North West Public Sector Consortium for: face to face interpreting, telephone interpreting, British Sign Language interpreting and written translations. The client comprises 60 NHS Trusts and six Police Forces in the North West, with a combined estimated contract value of up to £4.5m a year. Winning the North West contract means that we can provide valuable support to the police and to the community.

Shawn said: “The bookings for the police are very time-sensitive and also very involved and we are happy that we can make a significant contribution towards helping the police force in this way. Sometimes we have to book interpreters in very rare languages and at very short notice, and the sense of achievement at having fulfilled these bookings is tremendous. We hope that we will continue to be of service, not only to the Cheshire police but also to other police forces around the country.”

Prestige Network can be contacted on 0870 770 5260.

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Note to editors:
• Company overview: 26 staff, +5,000 linguists, +1,000 clients, four offices nationally – Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Thatcham (Head Office).
• Prestige Network has recently launched an online media centre. Please bookmark our site check there regularly for our latest press releases in downloadable PDF format, high resolution images, news archives and background information on the company. Please go to http://www.prestigenetwork.com/translation/mediacentre/ for more information.
• Formed in 1991, Prestige Network is a special language services provider based in Thatcham, Berkshire.
• Prestige Network provides a full UK wide service in all languages.
• Prestige Network can cater for all language and communications needs in the public sector, including central and local government departments, the NHS, charities, the police and other public organisations.