The ATC’s newly published Public Sector Manifesto sets out the association’s objectives towards sustainable development within the procurement and provision of language services in the UK’s public sector.

The “ecosystem” of language service procurement and provision within the UK’s public sector encompasses public sector organisations who commission and use translation and interpreting services, together with the supply chain – language service companies and the translators and interpreters providing these services.

At the very heart of the system are the individual people requiring translation and interpreting in their own languages.

In this ecosystem, the ATC represents language service companies from micro enterprises and SMEs to large companies providing the widest range of services in over 300 languages, using modern technologies for scheduling and managing translation and interpreting assignments. Within the association, the ATC’s Public Sector Procurement Committee comprises ATC Member companies actively involved in the sector’s work.

About the Manifesto

The ATC Public Sector Manifesto sets out the association’s objectives towards sustainable development within the procurement and provision of language services in the UK’s public sector.

The Manifesto aims to identify and promote 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 the current economic climate, following a prolonged time of austerity and in the future. 

Our objectives

Actively engaging with the ATC’s member companies, our stakeholders within the public sector’s commissioning bodies, and the associations and organisations representing translators and interpreters, our objectives are to:

• identify and promote sustainable best practices within the procurement and provision of language services;

• proactively work together with our stakeholders on implementing realistic, concrete solutions that benefit the entire ecosystem;

• work towards a regulated environment, with more effective governance and oversight of the provision of language services at all levels; and to

• look beyond immediate challenges and into the future, supporting inspirational solutions and technology that advance the development of the industry, in meeting the needs of all users.

Download the manifesto here