What AA Global does

AA Global (legal entity: AA Global Language Services Ltd.) is a UK-headquartered language services provider offering translation and interpreting across 500+ languages and dialects. Founded in 1992 by Kirk Akdemir in Worcester and now headquartered in Hull since the 2018 Stonefield House relocation, the company operates two core service lines: Translation Services (document, website, certificate, multimedia, accessible formats, and machine translation with post-editing) and Interpreting Services (face-to-face, telephone, video, conference interpreting, plus British Sign Language and palantyping). All work is delivered through a network of 15,000+ vetted native-speaking linguists, most DPSI-qualified or equivalent, and the firm carries ISO 9001, ISO 17100, ISO 18841, ISO 27001, and ISO 22301 certifications plus Cyber Essentials Plus and ATC 2026 accreditation, which act as procurement gating credentials for public sector work.

Service delivery combines direct human execution with technology-assisted workflows. Core technology components include a Client Portal for booking and usage management, a Telephone and Video Interpreting Portal for 24/7 remote access, and a proprietary machine translation engine trained on real human translation output that improves with each post-edited project. In 2025 the company launched Lingo2Go, a proprietary portable video interpreting device providing on-demand or pre-scheduled access to interpreters in 500+ languages including BSL, with bespoke software, training, and 24/7 support. Infrastructure runs on secure permission-based cloud environments compliant with the NHS DSP Toolkit and registered with the ICO.

AA Global monetises through project-based translation fees and per-booking or per-minute interpreting charges, with pricing varying by language pair, complexity, turnaround, and volume. The go-to-market is sales-led, combining direct enterprise field sales, public sector framework agreements (Crown Commercial Service Language Services Framework; East Sussex Language Services Framework with multiple NHS trusts and local authorities), and event-driven brand marketing including Chamber of Commerce Expos and the Humberside Airport digital partnership. Customer logos span enterprise manufacturing and consumer (Toyota, JCB, Unilever, Eddie Stobart, E.ON, Gtech), government and NHS (NHS Test & Trace, NHS Sussex, East Sussex County Council), and charitable/arts sectors (British Red Cross, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra). AA Global remains privately held under founder/management control with no disclosed external investors.

Name

AA Global

Legal name

AA Global Language Services Ltd.

Website

https://aaglobal.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AaGlobal is a UK-headquartered language services provider offering translation and interpreting across 500+ languages and dialects to public and private sector clients, including NHS trusts, Toyota, Unilever, and JCB, via a network of 15,000+ vetted native-speaking linguists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Translation Services: Document translation services covering technical manuals, legal documents, certificates, websites, and multimedia content. Native speaker translators with quality assurance and proofreading included. Includes certification and notarisation services.
2. Interpreting Services: Face-to-face, telephone, video, and conference interpreting services. Includes BSL interpreting and palantyping/speech-to-text services. Services available 24/7 with over 500 languages supported.
3. Lingo2Go Device: Portable video interpreting device available for purchase or lease. Includes full training, 24/7 support, and guaranteed privacy settings. Bespoke portal access for monitoring appointments.
4. Multimedia Services: Voice-over production, subtitling, and transcription services. One-stop production including voice actors, recording studios, and media production in various formats.
5. Accessible Formats: Braille, Easy Read, and Large Print document conversion services. Includes tactile diagrams, typesetting, and compliance with accessibility standards.
6. Machine Translation: Automated translation services for repetitive, simple translations with post-editing by human translators. Cost-effective solution for factual texts with short phrases.
7. Multilingual DTP: Typesetting and desktop publishing services for translated content. Ensures brand identity is maintained across all markets with localized design and formatting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AA Global provides professional language services for businesses, public sector bodies, and individuals, delivering document translation (legal, technical, certificates, websites, multimedia) and interpreting (face-to-face, telephone, video, conference) across 500+ languages and dialects. Services are executed by a vetted network of 15,000+ native-speaker linguists and supported by a proprietary client portal, AI-assisted machine translation with human post-editing, and the Lingo2Go portable video interpreting device.

Product overview

AA Global is a language services provider offering two core service areas: Interpreting Services and Translation Services. The interpreting portfolio includes face-to-face, telephone, video, and conference interpreting, plus specialist services for British Sign Language and palantyping. The translation portfolio covers document translations, machine translations, website translations, certificate translations, multimedia services, and accessible formats. The company also offers Lingo2Go, a proprietary portable video interpreting device, and a Client Portal platform for managing bookings. All services leverage a network of over 15,000 linguists covering more than 500 languages and dialects, with a combination of human expertise and AI-assisted machine translation technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lingo2Go: A portable video interpreting device that connects users to qualified interpreters in over 500 languages, including BSL; on demand or pre-scheduled. Provides instant access to real human interpreters via video.

Products and services

• Interpreting Services Professional interpreting services covering face-to-face, telephone, video, and conference interpreting, plus BSL interpreters and palantyping/speech-to-text services for public and private sector clients across 500+ languages and dialects.
• Translation Services Document translation services covering technical manuals, legal documents, certificates, websites, and multimedia content in over 500 languages; includes localisation, proofreading, certification, and notarisation.
• Lingo2Go Proprietary portable video interpreting device that connects users to qualified interpreters in over 500 languages including BSL on demand or pre-scheduled, providing real-time human interpreting via video call with custom-made software and 24/7 availability; available for purchase or lease.
• Face-to-Face Interpreting ISO 18841 accredited in-person interpreting with native speakers (most DPSI qualified) covering court appearances, medical appointments, conferences, and business meetings.
• Telephone Interpreting 24/7 telephone access to native speaker interpreters across 500+ languages and dialects.
• Video Interpreting Remote video interpreting connecting users with native-speaking interpreters via video conference calls, available 24/7 with up to 4 video participants.
• Conference Interpreting Highly trained conference interpreters for complex international conferences, providing up to 51 interpreters in person or remote plus audio-visual equipment, interpreting booths, and staging.
• British Sign Language Interpreting BSL interpreters for public and private sector clients, including face-to-face, online, and video interpreting, plus BSL videos and live event interpretation.
• Palantyping Services Speech-to-text reporting (STTR) with palantypists typing live at 200+ words per minute for accessibility in courtrooms, conferences, and live events.
• Certificate Translations Certified and notarised translation of official documents including passports, birth/marriage certificates, legal documents, medical records, and immigration papers.
• Website Translations Website translation into multiple languages with localisation, translating and formatting websites for cultural relevance in target markets.
• Machine Translations AI-powered machine translation combining AI and analysis of real human translations, offering immediate translations in approximately 450 languages and dialects with post-editing by human translators for cost-effective repetitive and factual texts.
• Multimedia Translation Services Audio voice-over production, subtitling, and transcription for video and audio content in any language with native voice actors.
• Accessible Formats Conversion of documents to Braille, Easy Read, and Large Print formats for accessibility compliance, including tactile diagrams, typesetting, and design services.
• Multilingual DTP Desktop publishing and typesetting services for translated content to maintain brand identity across all languages and markets.

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Humberside AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Digital marketing partnership with 12-month deal running until summer 2026. AaGlobal promotes its translation and interpreting services on airport screens targeting international business travellers. Partnership marks the 15th anniversary of AaGlobal's arrival in Hull and enables connection with travellers flying between Humberside and Schiphol to over 150 destinations worldwide.
• Crown Commercial ServiceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework supplier for Language Services providing translations, transcriptions, ancillary services, telephone/video interpreting, face-to-face interpreting including BSL regionally and nationally from both Worcester and Hull offices. One of the biggest frameworks in the country for public sector language services.
• East Sussex County Council and NHS TrustscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred supplier status for interpreting services across major public sector framework. Partner organizations include East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, Surrey County Council, NHS Sussex, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
• Hull & Humber Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner of the International Trade Centre within the Chamber. Supports the Chamber's mission to connect Humber region businesses internationally and participates actively in Chamber events including the annual Expo.
• ONE HumberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity created by AaGlobal to support communities in the Humber region. Inspired by AaGlobal's work with public sector clients including local authorities and NHS Hull CCG. Aims to ease demand on public services by promoting diversity, equality, and community integration.
• TCV HumberminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental volunteering partnership for conservation work across the UK. Part of AaGlobal's Corporate Social Responsibility initiative with plans for additional volunteering activities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lionbridge: Lionbridge is one of the world's largest language services providers, offering translation, localisation, and interpreting to global enterprise and public-sector clients. It is a broad incumbent with significant overlap on AA Global's enterprise translation work, especially for global brands like Toyota and Unilever.
• Capita Translation and Interpreting: Capita is a large UK outsourcing group that delivers translation, interpreting, and accessibility services to UK public-sector clients including NHS, courts, and central government. It competes with AA Global on the same UK public-sector framework lots but as part of a much broader BPO portfolio.
• RWS Holdings: RWS is a UK-listed global leader in translation, localisation, and intellectual property services, with a much broader portfolio including patent translation and life-sciences localisation. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with AA Global on document translation but operates at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Day Translations: Day Translations is a US/UK-headquartered translation and interpreting agency offering document translation, interpreting, and localisation across many languages. Comparable to AA Global in serving enterprise customers with multilingual document and interpreting needs.
• Lingo24: Lingo24 is a UK-based translation and localisation services firm serving enterprise and public-sector clients with a technology-enabled platform. It is closely comparable to AA Global in mid-market UK translation services and has overlapping public-sector framework activity.
• TranslateMedia: TranslateMedia is a UK-based translation agency offering document translation, localisation, and interpreting services to enterprise and public-sector clients. Closely comparable in mid-market UK translation services with overlapping public-sector framework activity.
• Language Services Associates (LSA): LSA is a US-based interpreting and translation services provider with a strong footprint in healthcare, government, and business interpretation via phone, video, and on-site delivery. Comparable in service mix (especially BSL/accessibility interpreting) and customer segments.
• The Big Word: The Big Word is a UK-headquartered language services company offering translation, interpreting, and localisation to public and private sector clients. It is one of the closest direct competitors to AA Global in the UK public-sector framework space.
• LanguageLine Solutions: LanguageLine Solutions is the largest interpretation and translation services provider globally, offering telephone, video, and face-to-face interpreting across hundreds of languages. It is the most direct competitor to AA Global in telephone/video interpreting and public-sector contracts in the UK and US.
• Wolfestone Group: Wolfestone is a UK-based language services company providing translation, interpreting, and localisation to enterprise and public-sector clients. Closely comparable in size and UK regional market positioning to AA Global.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AAGlobal_UK
• Facebookfacebook.com/AaGlobalUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aa-global-language-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/aaglobal_uk

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 AA Global