Tag: networking

Go West(words)!

Fifty translators and interpreters from 5 ITI networks congregated in Birmingham for a wealth of interactive sessions on Saturday 25th April 2026. Organised by Lloyd Bingham of ITI Cymru Wales, networks from the South West, West Midlands, North West and the Western Regional Group also came along to The Warehouse in Digbeth for the Westwords (Un)conference. The day featured 1 conference and 2 unconference streams covering yoga, subtitling, football-related outreach, comedy drama, technology and a fun quiz.

[Ozzy the Bull, Birmingham New Street Station]

So, what is an unconference?

Each delegate proposes a topic. The most popular then feature with a brief introduction followed by lively discussion. The conference sessions are more formal: sometimes with slides, sometimes simply led by the presenter with Q&A. Both hard and soft skills related to translating, business or technology were popular at Westwords.

My day started with Health & wellness at work, a conference session by Courtney Greenlaw. This was no formal PowerPoint presentation. Yes, there were slides showing us research about our sedentary, eye-straining profession, but also guiding us into yoga poses and meditation. After a somewhat difficult journey to the venue, this was the interactive tonic needed to start the day positively, both physically and mentally.

After a quick coffee, I ventured to the small ‘room’, Digbeth Community Garden, where Luke James held the unconference session Adaptation across nations: differences in English across the Anglosphere. As I translate, proofread and edit both British and American English, I am aware of some stark differences there. Here, I was also introduced to some radically different words and phrases in Australian and Canadian Englishes plus relevant forums for further information.

Back to the conference where Nicole van den Wittenboer spoke about The tech gap in the translation profession. Specifically, this was about whether we understand AI, its use and value alongside our own role. There ensued intense discussion about AI’s purpose, our workflows, what clients need… I was able to comment at the fifth attempt, as there were few pauses.

A lunch-time stroll

With 4 options for lunch. I headed off with the pub group, our route veering off-course due to building sites. Still, we made it via a lovely canal walk:

[Wandering along the canal]

[Our destination]

A sunny, mindful and practical afternoon

My afternoon began with an unconference session in the delightful garden: Jenny Taylor proposed Fostering an abundance mindset in a world of scarcity. I facilitated this session, which flowed gently from discussions of what we can celebrate workwise, personally and what is in our ‘locus of control’. In challenging times, it is easy to focus on the negative, but we should embrace the positive. Jenny mentioned ‘GLAD’, where we can show Gratitude, think about what we’ve Learned, find an Accomplishment and take Delight in something each day. The garden’s musical birdsong only enhanced this uplifting atmosphere.

Then, I returned indoors to facilitate the unconference session of Finding & marketing to direct clients, proposed by Katie Ward and Robert Calkin. Whilst working with agencies has long been the mainstay of freelancing, downwards pressure on prices alongside the post-editing of machine and AI-generated translation means that more fulfilling work (and remuneration) is possible with direct clients. Specialising, networking with colleagues and engaging with other professionals by commenting on your ideal client’s posts, attending trade fairs, blogging and using social media to demonstrate what you do and your interests were among the many useful ideas here.

[The Western Regional Group banner]

The wrap-up

In the wrap-up, we discovered that, besides regional networks, subject and language networks had also been represented. Some of us discussed the day’s highlights with refreshments at the nearby Custard Factory, a venue uniting Birmingham’s industrial past with its creative present – a fitting end to Westwords.

Social Media Mayhem or Effective Marketing?

Having recently helped promote a workshop on Facebook and LinkedIn, it was interesting to have some feedback on our main topic of marketing. Although not universally popular, it is necessary if you want potential and existing clients to know what you do and whether what you offer has changed.

[Photo by Merakist on Unsplash]

How can clients find you?

So, what is marketing? According to Oxford Dictionaries, marketing is “the activity or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising”. CIM, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, defines marketing as “the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably.” This may sound somewhat cold and calculated, but, unless you are translating as a hobby, you presumably need a strategy to make this your career.

Do you know your market?

If you have professional experience or qualifications in a specific subject, besides languages, this could be your main source of work. Do you know the clients who would benefit from translation in this field? Where are they based? Could you work for them directly? If you don’t have any specialist experience, do you have any hobbies or interests that you could develop into a specialism? Do you work for agencies? If so, are you happy with the projects on offer and the rates paid? How can you change this, if you’re not happy?

Do you have a website? If not, how do you communicate to potential clients about what you do? Can they find you on a professional database, such as that of the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) (https://www.iti.org.uk/find-professional-translator-interpreter.html) or CIOL (Chartered Institute of Linguists) (https://www.ciol.org.uk/find-a-linguist)? Do you have a blog? Do you use social media? Do you network with colleagues? Do you attend trade shows and conferences?

[Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on Unsplash]

So many questions, so little time

If this all seems overwhelming, take some time to reflect on whether you are happy in your work. If something could be better, do something to change that. There are so many opportunities to improve your situation. You may also find you enjoy particular projects and want to increase your work in that area. If so, tell your client how much you enjoy what they do and how you like being part of their team.

Meanwhile, if you want more expert advice, ITI’s Western Regional Group (https://www.itiwrg.org.uk/news.php) will be holding its Members’ Day on Saturday 15th November. Here, Sara Witham of Evil Empire Marketing (https://evilempire.co.uk/) will offer you some answers on how to market yourself. If you have any ideas and wish to share them, please drop me a line in the comments.

Ode to Autumn Networking

John Keats described autumn as the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”. So, it feels like a time to wind down before the year ends. It is also, in contrast, the start of the new academic year and, therefore, a time to refresh our perspective. For me, there have been several networking events from a Business Boost Day to the Members’ Day for my regional network through to ‘Netwalking’ (walking and networking in the Forest of Dean) alongside online events in my subject and language networks.

[Fallen leaves near the Dean Heritage Centre, Gloucestershire]

Becoming fruitful

As freelance translators, it’s easy to keep working without reflecting on our business strategy. Momentary disappointments may seem huge without taking time to assess our successes. At a Business Boost Day in September, we were encouraged to assess what has changed in the past 18 months in terms of our workload, client base, specialisms and earnings. Then, we discussed how we can react and adapt to change. We also talked about our success stories with an action plan to focus on work from our favourite clients.

Being mindful

A session on mindfulness at our Members’ Day made a room full of linguists fall silent – more than once! Focusing on our breath, however, brought clarity of thought and new insights into how we could improve our working day to stop us feeling overwhelmed. Even walking can be mindful if you take each step slowly and keep your mind free by again focusing on your breathing.

Netwalking

Spending what turned out to be a splendid autumn day walking in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, was a great escape from our desks. It was a chance to discuss work, network and walk – hence the term ‘netwalking’. Appreciating our surroundings, our colleagues and considering our work/life balance was uplifting. Our reward for a good 2 hours of walking was delicious refreshments in the Dean Heritage Centre Café.

[The Forest of Dean, Soudley, Gloucestershire]

The year ahead…

Bringing together these positive experiences gives me renewed energy. I look forward to working with focus and creativity for my clients and with my colleagues.

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With thanks to Becca George (ITI Western Regional Group) and Lloyd Bingham (ITI Cymru Wales Group) for the Business Boost Day, Claire Moreau of Bridgemaker Mindfulness for the mindfulness session as part of the ITI Western Regional Group’s Members’ Day and Astrid Freuler (ITI Western Regional Group) for the guided ‘Netwalking’. More details about the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) are available here:

https://www.iti.org.uk/