If you’ve worked with us over the last decade, there’s a good chance you’ve spoken to our new Managing Director.
Having joined the company in 2014, Rhys has played a key role in its growth and evolution, helping steer the business through office moves, a global pandemic and the acquisition of Dixon Associates. Earlier this year, he completed a six-figure management buyout and became Managing Director of both companies.
We caught up with Rhys to find out more about his career, his interests and his vision for the future of Business Language Services and Dixon Associates.
Can you tell us what you did before you came to BLS, and what brought you to BLS?
Before joining BLS in 2014, I had a bit of a mixed background.
I worked on an IT helpdesk, managed multilingual websites for an e-commerce company, spent years working in retail while studying and even ran my own small translation business on the side.
Looking back, I think all of those jobs helped in different ways. Retail teaches you how to deal with people, IT teaches you how to solve problems quickly and running your own business teaches you that things don’t always go according to plan!
BLS appealed because it combined a lot of the things I was interested in – languages, technology and business. I initially joined as a German to English translator, thinking I’d stay for a few years. Nearly twelve years later, here I am!
What does a typical day look like for you at BLS?
Honestly, if I ever find out what a typical day looks like, I’ll let you know!
I could be looking at budgets and financial reports, then discussing marketing plans, reviewing performance figures, helping a project manager with a complex client request or working on process improvements.
I still get involved in actual translation and review work too, mainly Welsh. I quite enjoy that because it keeps me connected to what we’re actually here to do.
As Managing Director, I get involved in pretty much every area of the business. Some days are strategic, some days are operational and some days involve putting out fires you didn’t know existed when you arrived at work that morning. That’s probably what keeps it interesting!
What languages do you speak and if you could learn another language, which would it be and why?
I’m bilingual in Welsh and English and studied German at university, so I’d say I’m fluent in German too, although I don’t get as much opportunity to use it as I used to.
I can get by in Spanish and know enough French to avoid embarrassing myself completely.
If I could instantly learn another language, the sensible business answer would be Irish. There’s a lot of demand for Irish language services and not enough resources available, so it would be incredibly useful.
The honest answer, though, is probably Portuguese or Italian. No strategic reason. Both are beautiful languages, and I’d love the excuse to spend more time in those parts of the world.
What’s the most unusual or memorable project you’ve worked on?
This is probably the hardest question because there are so many.
Over the years we’ve delivered around 500,000 words of Welsh translation in just three weeks, organised simultaneous interpreting conferences at the Senedd involving five languages and worked on some incredibly high-profile projects.
One day that sticks in my mind was when someone walked into the office carrying around 900 pages of handwritten Spanish documents and wanted them translated. That’s not something you see every day.
But one of the proudest projects was seeing Welsh subtitles appear on a major Hollywood film. As a Welsh speaker, that was quite a surreal moment.
What do you think sets BLS and Dixon Associates apart from other LSPs?
The people.
I know that’s probably the answer everyone gives, but I genuinely believe it.
Translation can sometimes be treated like a commodity, but that’s never been our approach. We see it as a specialist professional service. Clients are trusting us with information that’s often important, sensitive or business-critical, and not just buying words.
What I think clients value is that they can pick up the phone and speak to someone who understands what they’re trying to achieve. We still believe relationships matter.
How has the translation industry changed during your career?
Technology has changed almost everything.
When I started, translation memory tools were becoming increasingly important. Now, every conversation seems to involve AI.
There’s no doubt AI has been a major disruptor, and it’s created challenges across the industry. It’s been a really challenging few years for us, too!
Human expertise is still incredibly important, though. The best outcomes don’t come from choosing humans or technology. They come from using both effectively. The tools have changed dramatically, but there remains a need for good linguists and project managers.
What advice would you give to someone starting a career in languages?
Don’t just focus on languages. Obviously, language skills matter, but so do business skills, communication skills and technical knowledge.
If you want to become a translator, I’d also strongly recommend specialising in something. Legal, medical, engineering, life sciences… pick an area and become genuinely knowledgeable about it. The more specialist you become, the more valuable you become.
What do you get up to outside of work?
My wife and I have developed a slightly unhealthy habit of travelling around the country for concerts. If there’s a gig we want to see, we’ll probably find a way to get there.
The other thing that takes up a lot of my spare time is Swansea City. I’ve sat in the same seat at the Swansea.com Stadium for more than twenty years now. I’ve seen promotions, relegations, playoff finals and just about every emotion football can provide. Mostly frustration, if we’re being honest!
What’s your favourite travel destination?
I don’t really have one favourite. I enjoy spending time in Spain and the Greek islands because they’re great places to switch off, enjoy good food and slow down for a bit.
I’ve also travelled across the United States twice, which was an incredible experience. The scale of the country is difficult to appreciate until you’ve spent weeks driving through it.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Show initiative.
Skills and qualifications are important, but people notice the person who volunteers for something, comes up with an idea or solves a problem without being asked.
Throughout my career, the people who’ve progressed the most haven’t necessarily been the smartest people in the room. They’ve been the ones who are proactive and willing to take responsibility. A good attitude is often underestimated.
What’s been your proudest moment during your time at BLS?
There isn’t one standout moment. What I’m most proud of is seeing how much the business has evolved over the last decade. We’ve modernised the way we work, introduced new systems, expanded our services and adapted to a huge amount of change in the industry.
On a personal level, becoming Managing Director was obviously a very proud moment. When I joined BLS in 2014, I certainly wasn’t thinking, “One day I’ll be leading the business.” Life doesn’t always follow the path you expect.
What’s next for BLS and Dixon Associates?
The easy answer would be growth, but what we’re really focused on to achieve that growth is continuing to deliver the quality and service we’re known for while strengthening our position in areas like medical, legal and technical translation.
At the same time, we’re looking at how we can expand our service offering and adapt to an industry that’s changing rapidly.
There’s also a lot of work happening behind the scenes around our longer-term strategy and direction as a group. I can’t say too much just yet, but there are some exciting things in the pipeline. Stay tuned for more on that.
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