Roevin Translation Services helps the Halifax to speak their customers’ language

Roevin has been working with HBOS translating customer service literature into Welsh for several years.

Lindsay Mather, Retail Campaign Executive with HBOS said “By publishing customer literature in Welsh, we are demonstrating that we are proud to be doing business in Wales and that we respect the culture and the community.”

The Welsh Language Act, which came into force in December 1993, embodies the principle that the Welsh and English languages are equally valid and that individuals have a right to services in the public sector in Welsh and English.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of Welsh language speakers is now 21 per cent of the Welsh population with similar proportions able to read (20 per cent) and write (18 per cent) Welsh.

The Welsh Language Board is the organisation responsible for promoting and facilitating the use of the Welsh language.

Meirion Prys Jones, Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board, said:

“In an increasingly global market, businesses are seeing the value of creating a personality for themselves and identifying themselves as either being Welsh or eager to offer a localised service to customers.

A bilingual service is evidence of a commitment to ALL customers. A significant 20% of the population speak the language and a hefty 84% of the entire population, not just Welsh-speakers, value seeing and hearing the language.”

The Welsh Language Board is able to offer practical advice to help businesses who want to introduce Welsh into their operations. Grants are also available of up to £750 for companies wishing to produce bilingual materials. For further information please contact Dafydd Watts at Cymad on 01766 512300.