Lingo24
Edinburgh-based Lingo24 is one of the world’s fastest-growing translation and localisation providers. In the past 12 months they have translated over 46 million words across a wide range of languages. TalentScotland spoke to Lingo24’s Managing Director Christian Arno about the company’s international mix and their rapid expansion overseas.
Talk me through the background of Lingo24
I founded the company in 2001 when I was 22, out of my parent’s spare room. After running a test online translation business during a year on exchange during university, I realised there was a gap in the market for a translation company that marketed and operated purely online. In 2011, Lingo24 has now grown to around 150 full time staff across three continents.
What services do you provide?
We offer a range of language services, from translation through to ‘Transcreation’, as well as supplementary services, including Desktop Publishing, website localisation and foreign language internet marketing services. Our clients include anyone from individuals seeking one-off translations through to blue-chip international companies such as RBS, World Bank, and Orange.
How is the organisation made up?
We currently have 10 staff in Edinburgh, 5 in London and a large office in Timisoara, a university town in Romania, with about 100 staff. Our Panama office has 15 people, and we’re currently hiring five people in the Philippines. Our Edinburgh office has English, Scottish, German, Swedish, Danish, Dutch and Australian staff. The team is relatively young and energetic; most are in their mid to late twenties.
Are there any benefits to employing international workers?
As a translation company it is essential for us to have multilingual and multicultural employees. Many of the staff in our Edinburgh office work as Account Managers for their country of origin, and their language skills are an integral part of the job. With international staff not only do you get the language and job-specific skills, you also get a real mix of cultures and personalities.
What does the future hold for Lingo24?
I’ve just returned from Cebu City in the Philippines, where I’ve been interviewing potential candidates for our newest office out there. We will also be growing our offices in Edinburgh, London, Romania and Panama. Around 10% of our business currently comes from the States, so in the coming months we’ll be looking to the US market with renewed focus. We’re growing all the time, hiring new people, and developing new translation technologies and new services.
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