Intonation – ATC’s Member of the Month – February 2025

The ATC’s Member of the Month for February 2025 is Intonation, a language service company based in Portsmouth that has set itself apart through exceptional project management, innovation, and client-centric solutions.

Recognised as the Project Management Team of the Year at the ATC Awards 2024, Intonation’s dedicated and agile team has played a vital role in delivering high-quality translation services, expanding into new areas, and refining processes to drive efficiency and growth.

We spoke to the team about their journey, their achievements over the past year, and how they continue to push the boundaries of excellence in project management.
Riding High From A Year of Growth and Innovation.

A major highlight was their work on patent translations, handling 7,396 projects in just one financial year. With 9.8 million words processed and £1.04 million in revenue generated from one set of projects alone, the team successfully managed the demands of tight deadlines, specialised content, and client expectations, all while maintaining exceptional quality standards.

Beyond their core translation work, Intonation also made a bold move into e-learning. A long-standing client sought their support in localising training courses, leading the team to develop an entirely new workflow, onboard a dedicated engineering team, and master Storyline 360 software. The project was a deep learning curve, requiring expertise in synthetic voiceovers, subtitling, video editing, and script preparation. Despite these challenges, Intonation successfully delivered the e-learning content in German and Korean, with Arabic currently in progress.

This forward-thinking approach has also helped them secure global supplier status for a major client, contributing £195,000 in sales during this last financial period. Alongside this, they have optimised project budgets and supplier management, successfully increasing gross margins by considerable amounts.

Speaking about their bumper year, Olivia Ireson, Translation Manager at Intonation told us “Winning the ATC’s Project Management Team of the Year award is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and expertise of our entire team. Over the past year, we have taken on complex, high-volume projects, expanded into new service areas like e-learning, and refined our processes to enhance efficiency and quality. Our success is driven by a combination of teamwork, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering the best possible service to our clients. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of excellence in project management.”

A People-First Culture

While technology and processes play a key role, it’s people who make the difference. Intonation’s team-first culture ensures that employees, clients, and suppliers feel supported, valued, and engaged.

Within the company, project managers are encouraged to share knowledge, upskill, and grow professionally. Lead PM Irene González recently completed the ATC ELIA PM Training Course, with more team members set to follow. This commitment to training ensures that the team stays ahead of industry challenges while strengthening their expertise.

Client relationships are also at the heart of Intonation’s approach. The project management team works closely with clients, ensuring that expectations are met and projects run smoothly. Their proactive communication and problem-solving have helped build long-term partnerships and maintain high levels of client satisfaction.
Suppliers play a crucial role in the company’s success, and strong supplier relationships are key to ensuring quality and reliability. Intonation’s project managers work closely with their suppliers, negotiating fair terms, ensuring clear expectations, and providing consistent feedback.

Driving Business Growth and Expansion

Internally, the team has taken the lead in identifying skill gaps, refining workflows, and ensuring cost efficiency. Their efforts in training and upskilling have strengthened the company’s ability to handle complex, high-volume projects while maintaining high standards.

Externally, they have played a key role in expanding Intonation’s service offering. Their success in launching e-learning and synthetic voiceovers has strengthened their reputation as an adaptable and forward-thinking language services provider.

Their ability to manage costs, meet deadlines, and scale operations has reinforced Intonation’s reputation as a trusted partner in the industry.

Looking Ahead

Being named Project Management Team of the Year at the ATC Awards 2024 is a well-earned recognition of Intonation’s ability to deliver high-quality, client-focused, and technology-driven solutions.

With a commitment to efficiency, innovation, and teamwork, Intonation’s award-winning project managers are set to continue leading the way in the language services industry.

Congratulations to Intonation on being ATC’s Member of the Month!