If you are organising a meeting, appointment, court case or conference involving speakers of multiple languages, professional in-person interpreting facilitates seamless communication for all participants.
41
languages provided to date
Over 400
interpreting requests fulfilled to date, across the UK and internationally
5.1 million
people in the UK speak a language other than English or Welsh as their main language (as of 2021)
When to use face-to-face interpreting
In-person interpreting enables a natural, free-flowing conversation between participants, and is ideal for situations where body language and nuance are critical. It is also preferred in situations where sensitive or confidential information are being discussed, or in meetings involving people with limited access to or understanding of technology.
Medical Appointments
When doctors need to physically examine patients or conduct tests and scans, in-person interpreting gives the doctor, patient and linguist more contextual information leading to more effective communication.
Court Cases
Court hearings nearly always require interpreters to be present in-person for confidentiality, and so that the interpreting can be accessible to the entire court room equally.
Conferences
For multilingual conferences where simultaneous interpreting is being used, this usually needs to take place in person to allow speech to be relayed in real time between the speaker(s) and the interpreters, and due to the specialist equipment required.
Meetings with Vulnerable People
When organisations such as schools, local authorities or social care providers work with vulnerable people – including people with physical or mental disabilities, children, victims of crime, etc. – face-to-face interpreting allows for more natural and private conversation.
Sign Language Interpreting
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting (and interpreting for other signed languages) typically needs to take place in-person, since it relies on the interpreter being clearly visible to the clients. Deafblind interpreting in particular always needs to be done in-person, as it requires physical contact between the interpreter and the recipient.
Benefits of in-person interpreting
Face-to-face interpreting brings a number of benefits compared to remote interpreting for both clients and linguists.
Natural Conversation
Having all parties present in the same room creates a more natural human connection, leading to more productive and successful meetings.
Body Language
In medical appointments and police interviews, body language and other forms of non-verbal communication can be just as important as the spoken word.
Sensitivity and Confidentiality
When meetings involve the disclosure of sensitive or confidential information, having the interpreter physically in the room eliminates the possibility of details being disclosed to third parties.
No Technical Difficulties
If any participants have limited access to or understanding of technology, or if the meeting will take place in a remote location with poor internet or phone coverage, face-to-face interpreting is often the only practical option.
What to expect from your interpreter
We always hand-pick interpreters for each assignment based on their experience in your sector or industry. As well as being fluent in the two languages being spoken, your linguist will be genuinely knowledgeable about your subject matter and understand the technical content of what is being discussed.
All of our interpreters hold official interpreting qualifications, and the majority are members of the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI), the UK’s membership body for qualified professional interpreters. They are trained to navigate the most sensitive and challenging interpreting environments in a professional and effective way and deliver the highest quality service every time.
A qualified professional interpreter will allow your conversation to run as smoothly as possible while ensuring that everyone involved has full understanding of what is being discussed. They always remain impartial and never take the place of either party – they facilitate efficient communication in both directions by accurately translating what each person says.
As part of our onboarding process, all of our linguists sign strict non-disclosure agreements, and all interpreters hold a valid DBS check as a minimum, so you can be certain that any sensitive or confidential information discussed in your meeting will remain strictly confidential.
How to get a quote for interpreting services
To provide an accurate quote for an interpreting assignment, there are four key pieces of information that we will need:
Provide Language Details
Let us know the language combination(s) required including, if applicable, the regional dialect(s).
Share Meeting Information
Specify the time, date, location and duration of the meeting, and whether it will be virtual or in-person.
Define Interpreting Needs
Indicate the type of interpreting and any specific interpreter requirements, such as an enhanced DBS check or court clearance.
Outline Meeting Content
Provide a brief overview of the meeting's content to help us assign an interpreter with expertise in your industry or setting.
Professional interpreter services trusted by businesses across all sectors
We have been providing language support to a wide range of businesses for over 30 years.
Don’t just take our word for it…
Here is what some of our satisfied interpreting clients had to say about our services.
Business Language Services have recently supported us with a large translation and interpreting job and were extremely supportive, flexible and professional. I would highly recommend them.
Cardiff Metropolitan University
We have used Business Language Services many times to provide a translation and interpreter service in a legal capacity. They provide a thorough service and are very efficient. It is a pleasure corresponding with all at Business Language Services and they are always happy to help. For every query I have had, they have been able to assist, and the work has been of high quality each time. They are competitively priced and very professional. We would recommend Business Language Services to all.
Red Kite Law
We have developed a good working relationship with Business Language Services and in particular the project managers who provide a seamless booking process. They are able to make any amendments to the services we have booked and in a timely manner. We have supported our clients with many interpreter and translation services from BLS, which we have always found to be very professional.
Business in Focus (Business Wales)
Our most requested languages for interpretation services
We can provide interpreters for all spoken languages and signed languages used around the world. Our top 10 most-requested languages are:
Arabic
Polish
Mandarin Chinese
Persian (Farsi)
Spanish
Romanian
Welsh
Ukrainian
Pashto
British Sign Language
Get started with your professional interpreting booking today
For more information about our professional interpreting services, or to book an interpreter, speak to one of our friendly team today.
Frequently asked questions
Interpreter or translator – which do I need?
Although many people use the terms ‘translator’ and ‘interpreter’ interchangeably, they actually refer to quite distinct roles. Interpreting work deals with spoken language (or signed language), whereas translation work deals with the written word.
How much do in-person interpreter services cost?
Commercial interpreting services are charged at an hourly rate. Interpreter cost can vary depending on the language pair, but it is typically around £80 + VAT per hour. Most interpreters have a minimum booking period of 2 or 3 hours. Additionally, for in-person bookings, travel time, milage and accommodation charges are added, which will vary depending on how far the linguist needs to travel.
We can also offer Legal Aid interpreting for applicable cases. Legal Aid rates are much lower than typical commercial rates and are fixed by the UK Government, depending on the type of hearing. They can only be applied to legal cases that are being funded by the Legal Aid Authority.
When do I need an in-person interpreter rather than remote?
In-person interpreting is best in sensitive situations such as meetings with vulnerable or disabled people, or when discussing confidential details. It is also often essential for simultaneous interpreting for large conferences or events, as this typically requires specialist equipment such as soundproof booths, headsets and microphones.
Can you provide interpreters at short notice?
Yes, we can usually provide interpreters at short notice; however, this is not guaranteed for every language combination. Interpreters for some languages, especially BSL interpreters, can be in very high demand and so can get booked up a long way in advance. We generally recommend a minimum of a week’s notice, so that the linguist(s) can make travel arrangements. Remote interpreting can generally be arranged at much shorter notice than in-person.
Do you offer sign language interpreters?
Yes, we can provide sign language interpreters for British Sign Language (BSL), as well as related services such as deafblind interpreting (known as hands-on or tactile sign language), lipspeaking, and speech-to-text reporting. We also offer a range of other accessible format services including subtitling and captioning, Braille translation, and easy-read (large or dyslexia-friendly) printing.