Big brands losing out on UK business due to poor language skills

March 12, 2009 - PRLog -- Big brands are missing out on valuable revenue by failing to move with the times and provide language interpreting services to accommodate foreign customers living and working in the UK, according to Thames Translations.

Simon George, MD of Thames Translations has expressed concern over the number of businesses that were failing to accommodate for customers in the UK who may speak little or no English. Reports suggest that there are over 3.8 million non-UK born workers currently employed in Britain, many of which can’t speak fluent English, and George claims that this segment of the community is often ignored by major players in the market.

According to George, the biggest offenders are insurance providers, banks and companies offering quick response services and he argues that brands could make quick wins and increase market share over night by offering telephone interpreting services. “If you consider some of the essential services you use in your life, you can take for granted the problems that non-UK born residents could face. From breaking down on the side of a motorway to trying to renew your car insurance over the phone, there are countless opportunities for brands to capture this lucrative market and provide a service that others are failing to offer,” says George.

Thames Translations launched its telephone interpreting service last year to help businesses in the private sector to better service their customers both in the UK and overseas. With access to over 1,500 native translators who can speak over 150 languages, a telephone interpreting service can provide instant brand benefits, improve the brands reputation as a socially responsible company that embraces diversity, whilst also providing a cost-effective solution which has minimal impact on current staff arrangements.

“Only 10% of the UK workforce can speak a second language and so it is not possible, nor is it practical to only employ staff with multi-lingual skills. Telephone interpreting can enable brands to instantly embrace an increasingly diverse customer base and improve brand reputation with minimal disruption to the business,” says George.

Thames Translations is one of the UK’s longest established translation agencies and has an impressive client base including Microsoft, British Gas, Arriva, Eurostar , Tesco and Virgin.

ENDS