Language is Everything

What Language is Everything does

Language is Everything Ltd is a UK-based private language services company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire. The company delivers interpreting and translation services across 121+ languages, with a workforce of approximately 26 named staff supplemented by a curated pool of qualified linguists (minimum Level 3 Community Interpreting qualification). Its core offerings span four interpreting modalities — telephone (on-demand 24/7 with a 3-second average answer time), video (compatible with Zoom, Teams, Skype), face-to-face across the UK, and British Sign Language (BSL, Makaton, Deaf Relay) — alongside document translation services for legal, pharmaceutical, housing, charity, and export/trade clients. Supporting services include the Talkback multilingual contact centre, professional spoken-language assessments in 200+ languages, and GCSE language assessment support for schools.

The business is built on a human-centred delivery model in which technology (online customer and linguist portals, the Linguist Connect mobile app, telephony infrastructure) enables but does not replace qualified interpreters and translators. Revenue is generated primarily through usage-based pricing: telephone interpreting is billed per minute, translations by word count and language pair (with a 300-word minimum), and assessments per session. Customer concentration is anchored in UK public-sector and healthcare buyers — NHS trusts, local authorities, housing associations — supplemented by named commercial clients across legal, charity, manufacturing, and professional services.

The company has remained founder-owned since inception, with CEO Carolyn Johnson MBE at the helm since 1992, and has not raised external funding. It holds ISO 9001 (since 2018), ISO 17100:2015 for translation services, Cyber Essentials, GDPR compliance, Association of Translation Companies membership, and National Housing Federation Sector Supplier status. Its brand has been recognised through consecutive Great Place To Work certifications (including 3rd Best Workplace for Women in 2021, Top 50 UK workplaces in 2022, and multiple 2024 categories) and a Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 listing.

Name

Language is Everything

Legal name

Language is Everything Ltd

Website

https://languageiseverything.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Language is Everything is a UK-based, founder-owned language services company providing telephone, video, face-to-face and BSL interpreting alongside document translation across 121+ languages, primarily serving NHS trusts, local authorities, legal firms, charities and housing associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Services (Interpreting and Translation)

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Multilingual/Translation Communication Apps (BPAMACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interpretation, Translation & Language Access Training (Community Interpreting) (EDAAADAJ), Translation, Language Accessibility & Reading Support Tools (e.g., TTS, Captions, Immersive Reader) (EDAFAOAL)

Keywords

• Interpreting services
• Translation services
• Telephone interpreting
• Video interpreting
• Multilingual contact centre

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston upon Hull

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. Telephone Interpreting Services: On-demand and pre-booked telephone interpreting charged by the minute. On-demand service is pay-as-you-go for short spontaneous conversations. Pre-booked service for longer calls with scheduled interpreters.
2. Video Interpreting Services: Remote video interpreting sessions using various platforms (Zoom, Skype, Teams). Flexible scheduling with pre-booking available.
3. Face-to-Face Interpreting Services: In-person interpreting services throughout the UK for sensitive cases or situations where technology may be a barrier.
4. Translation Services: Document translation services including legal, medical, technical, pharmaceutical sectors. Also includes proofreading, localisation, subtitling, transcription, voiceover, and accessibility formats (Braille, large print, easy read).
5. Talkback Multilingual Contact Centre: Dedicated multilingual contact centre service where non-English speakers call a dedicated line and are connected to interpreters who transfer them to the client business.
6. Professional Language Assessments: Spoken language assessments for organisations to evaluate staff proficiency. Live (phone/video) or recorded assessment options with written reports.
7. GCSE Language Assessment Support: Language assessors provided for GCSE and educational language exams, supporting speaking and listening components across multiple languages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Language is Everything provides human-delivered interpreting and translation services across 121+ languages, with telephone, video, face-to-face, and British Sign Language interpreting plus certified ISO 17100 document translation. Supporting offerings include the Talkback multilingual contact centre and professional language assessments, all delivered through a UK-wide network of qualified linguists accessed via customer and linguist portals and the Linguist Connect mobile app.

Product overview

Language is Everything is a language services company offering interpreting and translation services. The core portfolio consists of four main interpreting products: Telephone Interpreting (on-demand and prebooked), Video Interpreting (via Zoom, Skype, Teams, and other platforms), Face-to-Face Interpreting, and British Sign Language Interpreting (including BSL, Makaton, and Deaf Relay). The Translation Services umbrella covers document translation across multiple sectors (charity, housing, legal, pharmaceutical, export/trade) with supplementary services including proofreading, Braille, large print, typesetting, localisation, subtitling, transcriptions, and voiceover. Supporting services include Talkback (multilingual contact centre), Professional Language Assessments (for employers/public sector), and GCSE Language Assessment Support for schools. The company operates customer and linguist-facing online portals plus a mobile app (Linguist Connect) for linguists. All services are delivered exclusively by human linguists; the company explicitly does not use AI for translations or interpretations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Telephone Interpreting On-demand and pre-booked telephone interpreting providing immediate access to professional interpreters across 121+ languages, charged per minute with a 3-second average call-answering time, available 24/7/365.
• Video Interpreting Remote video interpreting sessions compatible with Zoom, Skype, Teams, and other video platforms, offering a flexible middle-ground between telephone and face-to-face interpreting.
• Face-to-Face Interpreting In-person interpreting delivered by qualified interpreters throughout the UK, suited to sensitive cases, vulnerable individuals, or situations where technology may be a barrier.
• British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreting Professional British Sign Language interpretation including in-person and remote video sessions, Makaton communication support, and Deaf Relay Interpreters for deaf people with additional communication needs.
• Talkback Multilingual Contact Centre Dedicated multilingual contact centre providing phone lines answered in customers' languages, connecting non-English speakers with interpreters who transfer them to the client's team.
• Translation Services Professional document translation across legal, medical, pharmaceutical, technical, and other sectors with ISO 17100 certified workflows and supporting services including proofreading, Braille, large print, typesetting, localisation, subtitling, transcription, and voiceover.
• Language Assessments Professional spoken language assessments measuring fluency, clarity, pronunciation and understanding, available in over 200 languages with live (phone/video) and pre-recorded assessment options and detailed written reports.
• GCSE Language Assessment Support Provision of qualified language assessors for GCSE speaking and listening exams at UK schools, supporting bilingual students taking home, community, or heritage language qualifications.
• Customer Online Booking Portal Self-serve portal enabling registered customers to book, manage, and track telephone, video, and face-to-face interpreting assignments.
• Linguist Connect Mobile App Mobile application for Android and iOS allowing registered linguists to access interpreting assignments and manage their work remotely.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-second average call-answering time for on-demand telephone interpreting
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Macmillan Cancer SupportminorOthersCharitable partnership providing support services; Language is Everything works with Macmillan to help communicate with cancer patients and families affected by cancer across the UK
• Stroke AssociationminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting stroke survivors and their families; providing interpreting services to facilitate communication with stroke patients
• Turning PointminorOthersCharity partnership for social care and mental health services; Language is Everything provides interpreting support for Turning Point's services
• NSPCCminorOthersChild protection charity partnership; providing interpreting services to support NSPCC's work protecting children
• HEY Children's UniversityminorOthersHeadline sponsor of the Hull & East Yorkshire Children's University Ball; charity working with children in disadvantaged areas providing experiences to broaden horizons and raise aspirations
• P.A.U.L For Brain RecoveryminorOthersCharity providing community services to people and families affected by Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) throughout the Humber region; headline sponsor of Cirque Du Soleil Charity Ball
• ZarachminorOthersChildren's bed poverty charity with mission to end child bed poverty; giving children opportunity to engage at school and break cycle of poverty
• Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA)minorOthersCharity helping everyone living with and affected by MND access help and support they need
• Aortic Dissection AwarenessminorOthersNational patient charity for Aortic Dissection in the UK & Ireland; raising awareness and supporting families affected by this life-threatening condition
• Hull Kingston Rovers (Hull KR)minorOthersProfessional rugby league club from East Hull, competing in the Super League; founded 1882; known as 'the Robins' for their red and white colours
• Dewsbury RamsminorOthersProfessional rugby league club from West Yorkshire, playing in League One; founded 1898; wear red, amber and black colours
• East Hull ARLFCminorOthersAmateur rugby league club running junior teams from U6s to U18s based at Rosmead Sports Centre; competes in City of Hull & District Youth League focusing on development and community rugby
• Hull & East Yorkshire Electric Eels Powerchair Football ClubminorOthersPowerchair football club offering competitive and social opportunities for disabled players; promotes inclusion and development through sport
• Hull SeahawksminorOthersIce hockey club from Hull playing in NIHL National Division; founded 2022; focuses on competitive play and community engagement
• Lewis SylvesterminorOthersProfessional lightweight boxer from Hull known as 'The Thrill from Gipsyville'; English lightweight champion and IBO Continental titleholder; aiming to bring big boxing events back to Hull
• Learn QminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Learn Q to empower aspiring interpreters; offering Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting preparation course and exam bundle online; provides flexible payment options including interest-free instalments

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LanguageLine Solutions: World's largest on-demand telephone and video interpretation provider, operating the same core telephone/video/F2F interpreting business model as Language is Everything. They compete most directly for NHS, local authority, and large enterprise language service contracts across the UK and globally.
• DA Languages: UK-based language services company offering telephone, face-to-face, and written translation across the same customer segments (NHS, local authorities, legal). They are a head-to-head competitor for UK public-sector interpreting frameworks with comparable size and service breadth.
• The Language Group: UK specialist language services provider delivering interpreting (telephone, face-to-face, video), translation, and BSL across public and private sector clients. Direct overlap in service portfolio, customer verticals, and UK geographic focus.
• Prestige Network: UK interpreting and translation provider offering face-to-face, telephone, and video interpreting plus document translation, with strong NHS and local authority exposure. Directly comparable service portfolio and customer mix.
• Global Language Services: UK-based interpreting and translation company providing multilingual services to public sector and corporate clients, with ATC membership and ISO-aligned processes. Comparable mid-market UK LSP competing on similar NHS and legal sector contracts.
• Language Empire: UK interpreting and translation company offering telephone, face-to-face, video, and BSL interpreting across NHS, local authority, and private sector. Direct mid-market competitor with similar service breadth and UK geographic focus.
• TranslateMedia: UK-headquartered language services provider delivering translation, localisation, and interpreting to enterprise clients. Directly comparable translation services portfolio with sector specialisation in legal, financial, and life sciences.
• Wolfestone Group: Welsh/UK language services company offering translation, interpreting, and localisation to enterprise and public sector clients. Comparable full-service language services model with similar ISO certifications and sector specialisation.

Broad incumbents

• Capita Translation and Interpreting: Capita runs a large public-sector-focused translation and interpreting operation as part of its broader outsourcing portfolio, including the Police National Clearance Bundle and NHS framework contracts. They compete with Language is Everything on UK public sector tenders at much greater scale.

Emerging players

• LanguageLine UK (Acutest): UK arm of the broader language services ecosystem focusing on telephone interpreting for public sector and enterprise. Competes in the same on-demand telephone interpreting segment but with a narrower service mix than Language is Everything.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LanguageisE
• Facebookfacebook.com/LangisE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/language-is-everything-ltd

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Language is Everything