The ATC is absolutely delighted to share that it has been selected as the winner…
The ATC’s public sector news puts you in the picture of what’s new, noteworthy and interesting in the public sector space for translation and interpreting. This newsletter focuses on the benefits of the ATC’s public sector work for member companies and the wider language services ecosystem.
The ATC’s and its members’ contribution to public sector interpreting and language provision focus on advocacy and policy influence, raising standards through research and best practice, engaging with public sector stakeholders, and supporting quality delivery of interpreting services used by courts, health services, local authorities and other public bodies.
ATC Public Sector Map of the UK
Public Sector Advocacy and Policy Engagement
The ATC has been involved in stakeholder consultations and evidence provision on major public sector language service frameworks, including contributing to reviews of interpreting qualifications and standards for services such as those used in courts as well as upcoming AI guiderails for public sector organisations. The ATC regularly engages with public buying organisations including the Home Office, Crown Commercial Service, Blue Light Commercial, GCHQ, and the Ministry of Justice, representing the diverse ATC member company landscape.
Promoting Best Practices for the Industry
The ATC’s Public Sector Manifesto and White Papers set out the association’s objectives towards sustainable development within the procurement and provision of language services in the UK’s public sector. In its public sector engagement, the ATC identifies and promotes best practice, embracing the Government’s strategies around digitalisation and support of small and medium-sized enterprises while acknowledging and appreciating the challenges for those responsible for procuring public services in a challenging economic climate.
Research and Insights into Public Sector Ecosystem
The ATC publishes regular news, reports, and research related to interpreting and translation in the public sector, keeping stakeholders informed about developments, challenges, and opportunities. These include updates on new guidelines for the procurement of language services, and tools to predict demand for interpreting to inform policy and commissioning decisions.
Collaboration Across the Language Service Ecosystem
The ATC collaborates across the language services ecosystem and works closely with a number of associations and organisations representing freelance translators and interpreters on initiatives, research, and best practices. In the landmark Working Together White Paper, the ATC collaborated with 11 translator and interpreter associations to deliver shared client-facing recommendations for tackling the issues facing procurement and provision of language services for the public sector.
Insights from ATC Public Sector Procurement Ambassador
The ATC’s Public Sector Procurement Ambassador Bernadette Byrne has decades of experience in the provision of translation and interpreting services for public service buyers, and her insights help shape the ATC’s direction for advocacy and engagement:
“The landscape of public sector frameworks is changing, and the Government is showing a growing commitment to making public sector contracting more accessible to SMEs. Over the past years, the ATC has gone from conflict resolution on translation disputes to writing white papers and real involvement in advocacy and shaping the public sector language services sector. We have seen an increase in collaboration within the entire ecosystem of the public sector language services from key stakeholder buyers, Language service companies and linguist representation bodies. This is encouraging as it has helped to focus on how we can work together on common themes and challenges. Members do not need to share USPs or sensitive information, they are only adversaries in the bidding, but they face the same challenges. ATC is there to represent all the companies working in this sector.”
How to Grow Your Public Sector Business
Go4Growth provides tools and resources for micro and small businesses to access, tender for and manage public sector contracts. Their fully-funded programme includes tailored training, useful digital content and templates as well as access to events, 1:1 mentoring and more to make you and your organisation Public Sector Supply Ready.
ATC Partner Services for Public Sector Interpreting
Lingsom: Interpreting Management System
ATC Partner Lingsom is a management system for LSPs – one system to manage all interpreting (spoken or sign language) and translation orders efficiently and securely. Custom-designed to manage the complexities of interpreting assignments, Lingsom matches each assignment on-site, over the phone, message delivery or video interpretation with the right linguist in your company and automatically does query, confirmation, invoicing, and payrolls and much more.
DPSI Online: Interpreter Training & Qualifications
DPSI Online has trained over 2000 students since 2009. Its training enables aspiring interpreters to progress and become qualified as a professional interpreters and translators from Level 3 to Level 6, and its national qualifications empower interpreters to deliver high standards whenever they go for assignments.
Related Posts
