thebigword

What thebigword does

thebigword is a UK-headquartered language services provider founded in 1981 and operating globally, delivering translation, interpreting, and language technology solutions through its proprietary WordSynk platform. The platform unifies face-to-face, telephone, video remote, and sign language interpreting services, supported by a network of 15,000+ professional linguists covering 250+ languages and secured by Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. The product portfolio spans human translation, ISO 18587 certified machine translation with post-editing, transcription, multimedia localization, and the more recent WordSynk Virtual vertical product for US healthcare providers, alongside the March 2024 acquisition of Clarion which made the combined entity the UK's largest British Sign Language company.

The company generates revenue primarily through enterprise sales to governments, blue-chip corporates, and public sector organizations in the UK, US, and Saudi Arabia, complemented by 15 procurement frameworks that provide privileged access to public sector buyers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is structured around subscription/recurring interpreting engagements and project-based translation contracts. Reported FY2024 turnover was £69.2m (up from £61.4m) with EBITDA of £7.7m, indicating double-digit revenue growth and improving operating leverage while the company remains in a pre-tax loss position that narrowed to £5.3m.

Customer segments include healthcare providers, justice system, police services, local government, and enterprise/blue-chip corporates in fintech and technology verticals. Named customers include Yorkshire Water, the UK Department for Transport, North East Police, INOI, a leading online trading and investments provider, and 150+ US healthcare organizations. Go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-oriented, with the company operating from its Leeds headquarters and additional operational presence in Miami. The company is privately held and backed by private equity investors.

Name

thebigword

Legal name

thebigword Group

Website

https://thebigword.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

thebigword is a UK-based language services provider delivering translation, interpreting, and AI-enabled language technology through its proprietary WordSynk platform, serving governments, healthcare providers, and blue-chip corporates across the UK, US, and Saudi Arabia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Translation & Multilingual NLP (HDAAADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Translation & Transcreation Services (Script/Dialogue Adaptation) (MPAHAFAD), Speech Translation & Multilingual Speech Tech (HDAAAFAE), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD), Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps (BPAMACAJ)

Keywords

• Language interpreting services
• Professional translation services
• Video remote interpreting
• Multilingual communication platforms
• Sign language interpreting

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interpreting Services: Provides face-to-face, telephone, video remote, and sign language interpreting services through the WordSynk platform. Services are available 24/7/365 with access to over 15,000 professional linguists. Telephone interpreting connects users in under 30 seconds.
2. Translation Services: Human translation, machine translation with post-edit, transcription, multimedia, and localisation services. Services include ISO 18587 certified augmented machine translation with human post-editing.
3. Translation Project Services: Large-scale translation projects delivered over defined periods, such as the Stand for Children project involving 600,000+ words across 500+ files.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

thebigword provides professional language interpreting and translation services delivered through its proprietary WordSynk technology platform. The Interpreting division offers face-to-face, telephone (under 30-second connection), video remote, and sign language (BSL) interpreting 24/7/365 in 250+ languages via a 15,000+ linguist network. The Translation division delivers human translation, ISO 18587 certified machine translation with post-editing, transcription, and multimedia localisation. Services are sold primarily to governments, blue-chip corporates, and public sector organisations including healthcare, justice, police, and local government.

Product overview

thebigword is a language technology company offering a comprehensive language services platform combining proprietary WordSynk technology with human expertise. The product portfolio consists of WordSynk as the core technology platform (with cloud security via Microsoft Azure, mobile apps, and AI-powered automation) supporting three main service divisions: Interpreting (Face to Face, Telephone Interpreting, Video Remote Interpreting, and Sign Language Interpreting including Video Relay Service), Translation (Human Translation, Machine Translation with Post-Edit ISO 18587 certified, Transcription, and Multimedia), and Public Sector solutions for Healthcare, Justice, Police, and Local Government. Key product features include WordSynk Virtual for healthcare interpreting, WordSynk TI Platform for telephone interpreters, and the acquired Clarion brand for British Sign Language services. The company leverages AI-enhanced workflows across translation and interpreting, supporting over 250 languages through a network of 15,000+ professional linguists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WordSynk: thebigword Group's unique platform for delivering all interpreting services in one place, including video remote interpreting, telephone interpreting, and AI-powered language technology.
• WordSynk Virtual

Products and services

• WordSynk Platform Proprietary platform for delivering all interpreting services (face-to-face, telephone, video remote, and sign language) in one place. Secured by Microsoft Azure, accessible from any internet-connected device with mobile apps, management reporting, and AI-powered automation. Used by British and US Government Departments and top global brands.
• Face-to-Face Interpreting In-person interpreting delivered at the customer's location by qualified professional interpreters across 250+ languages. Thebigword completes 300,000+ face-to-face bookings per year, serving clients in healthcare, justice, police, local government, and corporate settings.
• Telephone Interpreting On-demand telephone interpreting connecting users with professional linguists in under 30 seconds, available 24/7/365 across 250+ languages. 36m+ telephone interpreting minutes delivered annually with 99% call reliability through the WordSynk TI platform.
• Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)
• Sign Language Interpreting (BSL) British Sign Language interpreting services including Video Relay Service for Deaf and hard of hearing communities, delivered by qualified BSL interpreters. Strengthened via the Clarion acquisition, with generative AI sign language translation via the Signapse partnership.
• Human Translation
• Machine Translation with Post-Edit
• Transcription
• Multimedia Services
• WordSynk Virtual Language interpreting platform providing instant access to interpreters for U.S. healthcare providers, with under 25-second connection for Spanish. Has supported 224,000+ interactions in 250+ languages, serving 150+ healthcare organisations. Includes three-way calling, voice recognition, session rejoin, and HIPAA compliance.
• WordSynk TI Platform Telephone interpreting platform for interpreters available as desktop and mobile applications, with one-time login, simplified call receiving process, 99% call reliability, and higher call quality. Used by thebigword's network of 15,000+ freelance linguists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Telephone interpreting connects users in under 30 seconds
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leading Online Trading and Investments ProvidercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Partnership with fintech organisation for translation and localisation support of digital and website content. Client operates globally making financial markets accessible for investors.
• ClarioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Acquired British Sign Language service provider to strengthen BSL services in the UK. The deal established the combined entity as the largest British Sign Language company in the UK. Clarion continues to operate as a standalone unit. Contributed £3.3m in revenue and £200,000 EBITDA in 2024.
• INOIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Selected as preferred global translation partner for European technology brand. INOI manufactures affordable high-quality devices including smartphones, tablets and feature phones with millions of active customers worldwide.
• ZarachminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with Leeds-based charity dedicated to ending child bed poverty. Company pledged minimum £1,000 annual donation and provides volunteer support. Has delivered over 7,500 beds to families in Leeds area.
• Preferred Curriculum SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation consulting firm collaboration on Stand for Children project. Provided specialised knowledge for curriculum selection and development, systems improvement, and instructional program implementation for the Great First Eight curriculum translation.
• Feeding South FloridaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCSR partnership to fight hunger in South Florida. thebigword Miami team volunteered to inspect, sort, and pack food for families, processing 12,435 pounds of food equivalent to 9,876 meals in a single day.
• New Futures NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with specialist part of HMP Prison and Probation Service supporting rehabilitation of offenders. Exploring training opportunities for inmates to become linguists and employability sessions.
• Yorkshire WatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContract renewal for telephone interpreting services. Yorkshire Water is one of the largest regulated water and wastewater companies in the UK, serving over 5.4 million people daily.
• New Wortley Community CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCSR partnership supporting local community centre. Donated sanitary products, organized winter coat appeal and Christmas food parcels, supported community festival, and delivered English language learning presentations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LanguageLine Solutions: LanguageLine Solutions is one of the largest dedicated interpretation and translation providers globally, with strong US public-sector and healthcare penetration via telephone and video interpreting. It directly competes with thebigword in telephone/video interpreting, particularly for healthcare organisations and government clients.
• TransPerfect: TransPerfect is the world's largest privately held language services company, offering translation, interpreting, and localisation across all major verticals and geographies. It competes head-to-head with thebigword in enterprise translation, legal/financial localisation, and government contracts.
• RWS Group: RWS Group is a publicly listed UK-based language services and intellectual property solutions provider with comparable translation, localisation, and interpreting offerings. It overlaps directly with thebigword in regulated industry translation, life sciences, and enterprise localisation.
• Lionbridge Games (and parent Lionbridge): Lionbridge is a major global language services provider offering translation, localisation, and interpreting services to enterprise and public-sector clients. It directly competes with thebigword in enterprise translation and multilingual content services at global scale.
• Welocalize: Welocalize is a privately held language services provider offering translation, localisation, and interpreting with strong technology platform integration. It competes directly with thebigword across enterprise, legal, and public-sector language services.
• CyraCom International: CyraCom is a major US-based provider of telephone and video interpreting services focused heavily on healthcare and government. It directly competes with thebigword's WordSynk Virtual healthcare interpreting offering in the US market.

Emerging players

• Straker Translations: Straker Translations is a publicly listed AI-augmented translation services provider focused on enterprise clients. It represents an emerging technology-led competitor to thebigword in machine translation plus human post-editing workflows.
• Smartling: Smartling is a cloud-based translation management platform offering enterprise localisation software and managed services. It overlaps with thebigword's WordSynk platform positioning as a technology-led translation solution for global enterprises.

Regional players

• Capita Translation and Interpreting: Capita provides UK public-sector-focused translation and interpreting services, including for justice, police, and local government. It is a direct UK public-sector competitor to thebigword's government contracts and procurement framework wins.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft (Azure AI Translator): Microsoft Azure AI offers machine translation, speech translation, and conversational AI services as part of its broader cloud and AI platform. As a broad incumbent in multilingual speech and translation AI, it represents both a competitor (AI translation services) and infrastructure partner (Azure cloud securing WordSynk) to thebigword.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thebigword
• Xx.com/thebigword
• Facebookfacebook.com/thebigword

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about thebigword