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PRESS RELEASE
Gavin’s ‘Star’ Business Quality Translates into Award Win
Gavin Wheeldon, the founder and Managing Director of Applied Language Solutions, has beenawarded this year’s annual HSBC Start-Up Star Award 2006 in recognition of hisinspirational business success.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Date of issue: 18/10/06The 300 guests who attended the glittering black-tie HSBC Start-up Star Award ceremony heldat London’s Savoy Hotel on 17
th
October, witnessed Gavin Wheeldon, the founder andManaging Director of one of the leading translation agencies, Applied Language Solutions,being crowned this year’s 'HSBC Start Up Star 2006'. In less than three years, Gavin has takenhis Huddersfield based company from being a one-man translation operation in his backbedroom into a multi-million pound Global enterprise now boasting International offices and a 54strong team that provides translation services to big named brands such as Primark, RobbieWilliams and Nike. It comes as no surprise that the man responsible for this success outshinedthe other finalists to scoop the prestigious award along with the top prize of £25,000 inrecognition of his star business quality, creativity and determination to succeed.The annual HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards, presented in association with the Daily Express andSky News, are a nationwide search for Britain's brightest new businesses and the inspirationalentrepreneurs behind them. After being awarded the Regional Winner for the North, Gavin, 30,secured his place as a National Finalist and went on to win this year’s final award, not justpurely based on the profit and turnover of his phenomenally growing company, but for his abilityto identify a business opportunity and use his initiative, creativity and sound business practice toturn it into a successful enterprise.Gavin enthused “We’re a young dynamic company always striving to deliver an excellent andunrivalled service ecstatic and winning this award recognises Applied Language’s ability as asuccessful and innovative company. Not only that, but it acknowledges our passion andcommitment about what we do. I am extremely proud that we have achieved what we havetoday. Starting my own business has changed my life. I actually get up in the morning lookingforward to coming to work.”Organisers were specifically searching to award the entrepreneur whose venture serves as aninspiration for those who are contemplating turning their business dreams into reality, anddemonstrates a practical example that success can be achieved. This is certainly the case withGavin Wheeldon and his continuously successful translation company.Gavin, who is originally from Manchester, saw in the translation industry traditional workingpractices, and realised the potential opportunities offered by the use of Internet Technology. So,with his final salary and his knowledgeable exploitation of the Internet, Gavin launched AppliedLanguage Solutions from the back bedroom of his home with the main aim being to offer quicker, cheaper and improved quality translation services. This is essentially where AppliedLanguage Solutions’ competitive edge lies.
 
New business enquiries come almost exclusively through the web and vary from an individualneeding a translation for a tattoo to global organisations such as Yahoo! and the United Nations.Specialising in web translation is another factor that makes this company stand out from thecrowd, as they have the expertise to work with complex file formats and the ability to integratedirectly with clients’ management systems.Gavin explains “I saw in translation a trade whose roots were primarily academic. Here was theopportunity to totally transform the process involved in delivering translation services to meetthe challenge of today’s modern world, and I grabbed it with both hands. I took the risk and withmy last salary payment from my previous job I established Applied Language Solutions in myback bedroom. Although I have encountered many challenges, through sheer determination,hard work and belief in the company, the risk paid off. The rapid and completely organic growthhas been phenomenal, and here I am today with a highly successful translation agency thatoffers translation and interpretation services in over 140 languages to anywhere in the world.” Gavin and his brother, Paul, 34, as Project and Operations Manager has seen the companygrow quickly and the workforce expand. They also now have over 6,000 professional ‘in-country’translators recruited worldwide and the company’s global presence has increasedphenomenally with offices operating in California, Paris, Barcelona, Sofia and Guatemala City.After already moving offices 6 times around Huddersfield to accommodate the growingworkforce, the company’s UK office is currently settled at Armitage Bridge, Huddersfield.Gavin continues “I realise the company’s greatest asset is the staff. We are continuouslyrecruiting new members, and the amazing team certainly deserves the credit as being one of the major contributions in the success of Applied Language today, and these awards are atestament to the hard work and enthusiasm of all the staff. The way we treat the staff is just oneof the areas that makes us stand out from the crowd, not only in this industry but generally. Weoffer various benefits, including free healthy lunches and fruit, ‘Duvet’ days, massages andbirthdays off, to name but a few. All of our staff are also provided with a laptop and MP3 player.”“To prove our commitment to staff development, we have put a lot of hard work as a team intoachieving the strict working standards of Investors In People, and were very proud to receivethe accreditation in April. We also received ISO 14001 last week in recognition of our commitment to environmental management.”It doesn’t stop there for Gavin. ALS is currently in the process of developing an INSTANTinterpretation service, with plans also in place to open offices in Romania, Germany, East Coastof America, China and Australia in the not too distant future, which will allow 24 hours globalcoverage.“I have a passion and drive that not only helps push my company forward, but also the people inmy team to strive for bigger things. Overall I think the most innovative part about the company isthe fact that we keep on innovating. We are constantly striving to do things better and faster andwe are constantly looking at how we can improve every area of the business. That is theunderlying principle to the company’s success, and any piece of advice I would offer to thosebudding entrepreneurs considering setting up their own business. That, and don’t be afraid totake the risk. If you believe in something enough and work hard, it will be successful. AppliedLanguage Solutions is a great example.”Applied Language Solutions boasts the ability to translate all kinds of documents from simpleletters to large technical documents, including whole websites and printed catalogues, for specialist Medical, Legal, Financial and Marketing organisations.For a FREE quote visitwww.appliedlanguage.comor call +44 (0)870 172 0000 in the UK or +1(800) 579 5010 in the US to talk to a one of the team.
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ninjapirate007

yeah, makes you think anything is possible

reply05 / 22 / 2007
bailarina

great success story!

reply05 / 21 / 2007
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