Welsh Words of Wisdom

The translation business is, by its very nature, panic driven – often an after thought by a client resulting in a task which is required immediately, or yesterday. There has to be a premise to accept work, to never say no, and to deliver. This breeds confidence amongst clients and they will return and they will nudge their colleagues and friends in other organisations to look our way. This has been vital to the development and good name of the company resulting in significant turnover increases year on year.

Bla Translation is an award-winning English to Welsh translation company which has enjoyed significant growth since its early beginnings as a sole trader business in 2013. The company now boasts a workforce of ten members of staff and relies heavily on a further pool of freelance translators.

The company was founded by its director, Alun Gruffydd, who has a background in the public sector but not in the translation field. With a constant itch to venture into the private sector, that leap was finally made and the business has gone from strength to strength. In Alun’s opinion, the key to success lies in a number of fundamental factors – a sound infrastructure of administrative and financial systems, attractive and contemporary branding and media presence, choosing the correct blend of qualified and enthusiastic staff, and the constant ability to exceed the expectations of the customer.

Bla Translation’s client base is vast and has a good range of small to mid to large size businesses from the public, private and third sectors. This diversity is important, as it secures returning clients and the ability to entice a constant flow of new ones.

Despite such growth, it is important always to take a step out to look back in. Bla Translation has a long-term marketing plan, a journey and an idealogy based on where it wishes to be over the next five to ten years. This was written in 2016, under the guidance and professionally challenged by a previous professor from Bangor University’s Management School. He, along with the company’s external accountant, provided the bedrock for the company’s initial development. Alun would advise every business to undertake this method of scrutiny, to evaluate how the business is performing, which areas needs addressing and to take honest and difficult decisions, objectively. It is invaluable.

Translation is not a sexy product. It cannot be shown. It cannot be wrapped in a box and it is not populist. There lies the challenge. However, it is a vital component of the business needs of our various sectors here in North Wales and beyond, manifested by Bla Translation’s success in the Daily Post Business Awards in 2018, leaping onto that floodlit stage ahead of many shortlisted manufacturers of those snazzy, tasty, glitzy and sought-after products.