Clarion UK

Name

Clarion UK

Legal name

Clarion Interpreting Ltd

Website

https://clarion-uk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sign Language Interpretation and Accessibility Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Employment Services (5613)

SIC

Services-Business Services, Nec (7389), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Vision Services (Audiology, Interpreting, Orientation & Mobility) (EDAJAKAI), Accessibility & Special-Needs Customer Support (BPAAABAM)

Keywords

• BSL interpretation services
• Sign language interpreting
• Deaf accessibility services
• Learning support services
• Video remote interpreting

Headquarters

HQ city

Hereford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Language Services: Provision of BSL interpreters, speech-to-text reporters, lipspeakers, notetakers, deaf interpreters, foreign sign language interpreters, deafblind interpreters, and VRI/VRS services to organisations across legal, healthcare, commercial and public sectors. Charged per booking or per minute (VRI).
2. Learning Support Services: Provision of specialist notetakers, support assistants, scribes, sighted guides, specialist mentors, study skills tutors, teachers of the deaf, and communication support workers for Deaf and disabled students in further and higher education.
3. Employment Support Services: Communication employment consultants, workplace assessments, deaf awareness training, and Access to Work advice and support delivered in partnership with DWP programmes and employment agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clarion UK provides specialist accessibility services for Deaf, hard-of-hearing and disabled individuals across three core divisions: Language Services (NRCPD-registered BSL interpreters, speech-to-text reporters, lipspeakers, deaf interpreters, deafblind interpreters, foreign sign language interpreters, and Video Remote Interpreting/VRI), Learning Services (specialist notetakers, communication support workers, scribes, sighted guides, specialist mentors and Teachers of the Deaf for further/higher education), and Employment Services (communication employment consultants, workplace assessments, deaf awareness training and Access to Work support). The company operates a UK-wide network of 24 core staff plus approximately 1,015 vetted freelance interpreters and specialists, and holds positions on the Ministry of Justice and NPCC national frameworks to deliver services to public sector, legal, healthcare, education, commercial and media clients.

Product overview

Clarion UK is a specialist provider of accessibility services for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, offering a portfolio of language interpretation, learning support, and employment services. The Language services division provides BSL interpreters, speech-to-text reporters, lipspeakers, lip readers, communication support workers, notetakers, deaf interpreters, foreign sign language interpreters, and deafblind interpreters, plus remote VRI/VRS services. The Learning services division supports deaf and disabled students (16+) in further and higher education with specialist notetakers, support assistants, scribes, sighted guides, mentors, study skills tutors, and Teachers of the Deaf. The Employment services division provides job placement support through communication employment consultants, workplace assessments, deaf awareness training, and Access to Work guidance. The company operates nationwide with a network of freelance professionals and was acquired by thebigword Group in March 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BSL Interpreters British Sign Language interpreters enabling communication between Deaf sign language users and hearing people; all interpreters are NRCPD-registered and supplied across legal, healthcare, education, commercial and public sector contexts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3000 people and 250 companies supported nationwide in 17 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• thebigword GroupcoreOthers · 1 March 2024Clarion UK was acquired by private equity-backed language technology company thebigword Group in March 2024. The acquisition contributed £3.3m in revenue and £200,000 EBITDA for the year ending 31 December 2024. The acquisition strengthened thebigword Group's sign language service capabilities as part of its AI-driven WordSynk platform strategy.
• England Women's Deaf Football Team / Great Britain Deaf FootballminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023thebigword (parent) provided two qualified BSL interpreters as official interpreting partner for the England Women's Deaf Football Team at the 2023 Deaf World Championships in Malaysia. Clarion UK, now part of thebigword Group, continues this partnership with GB Deaf Football teams to champion equal access in sport.
• Reed in PartnershipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReed in Partnership procures Clarion UK's specialist employability support services for Deaf participants, including communication support with employment advisors, job application assistance, CV writing, interview support, and in-work support via webcam or face-to-face. Clarion also sources BSL interpreters for meetings and handles bookings.
• ReedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReed, a leading employment agency, works with Clarion UK to provide BSL interpretation services for deaf job seekers on Work and Health Programmes. Clarion provides dedicated booking management, streamlined processes, monthly updates, and remote interpretation services for hard-to-source locations.
• London South Bank UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership since 2009 supplying a team of over 100 BSL/English interpreters, notetakers, and specialist language tutors to support over 30 Deaf and hearing-impaired students. Clarion also delivers Interpreter Awareness Training to tutors and provides continuous student support.
• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClarion delivered two Deaf Awareness Training sessions for hospital staff during National Disability week, including basic BSL sign teaching. Training presented by a Deaf staff member (Wesley Nolan) from Clarion's employment team. The Trust's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team organised the event and launched a staff health passport.
• Student Loans Company / Student Finance EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged Clarion to create 12 BSL videos for prospective students in England for the 2019/20 Academic Year. Clarion provided a dedicated project manager and media manager, working with a sign language professional over five days at SLC's Glasgow studio. Videos posted to the SLC YouTube channel.
• National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) / Leicestershire PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClarion UK was awarded a place on the national Police Approved Interpreter and Translator (PAIT) scheme, providing BSL interpreters and language service professionals across all police services in England and Wales. Framework launched November 2020.
• Ministry of Justice (MoJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClarion UK holds a contract with the Ministry of Justice for Non-Spoken Language Services. Quality assurance provided by The Language Shop. The company also provides an Authority Code of Conduct for MoJ service groups.
• National Register of Communication Professionals with Deaf & Deafblind People (NRCPD)coreOthersAll BSL interpreters supplied by Clarion UK are NRCPD registered and vetted. Complaints about interpreter quality or standards are referred to NRCPD. Clarion UK's registration and compliance relies on NRCPD-registered professionals.
• Sainsbury'sminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSainsbury's Disability Recruitment Direct Hire scheme ('You Can') enables Deaf candidates to bypass lengthy online recruitment processes. Clarion UK's Deaf Employment Advisors, supported by BSL interpreters, connect Deaf candidates directly to store managers for interviews.
• IngeusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClarion works in partnership with Ingeus (a DWP prime contractor) to deliver specialist employability support for Deaf and disabled job seekers under government employment programmes.
• JobCentre Plus (DWP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobCentre Plus advisors refer Deaf clients to Clarion UK's specialist Deaf Employment Advisors for support with job searching, CV preparation, employer liaison, and Access to Work funding advice. DWP's Access to Work programme funds interpreter support for Deaf employees.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD): UK Deaf-led charity providing BSL interpreting, communication support, advocacy, employment, and learning support services for Deaf people. Directly competes with Clarion across multiple service lines including employment and learning support.
• Purple Communications: Major US provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) and on-demand ASL interpretation for Deaf consumers and businesses. Comparable in VRI/VRS technology, customer base, and delivery model.
• Sorenson Communications: US-based leading provider of Video Relay Service (VRS) and ASL interpreting for the Deaf community, including the ntouch VP and Sorenson IP Relay services. Closely comparable to Clarion's VRI/VRS product line on technology and customer base.
• Convo Communications: US-based VRS provider offering on-demand ASL interpretation via video for Deaf consumers and businesses. Closely comparable in VRI/VRS delivery model, technology stack, and Deaf end-user focus.
• Action Deafness Communications: UK Deaf-led charity and BSL/English interpreting agency providing communication support, deaf awareness training, and employment services. Comparable in mission, customer base, and service portfolio (language, learning support, employment).
• Remark! Interpreting: UK-based BSL interpreting and Deaf-led communication services agency supplying face-to-face, video remote interpreting, and deafblind interpreting. Direct UK competitor with overlapping customer segments in public sector, education, and corporate clients.
• BID Services: UK charity providing specialist support services for Deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing people, including BSL/English interpreting, communication support workers, and learning support. Overlaps with Clarion in education-sector communication support worker contracts.
• Sign Language Interactions: UK-based BSL interpreting and translation agency providing BSL/English interpreters, VRI, deafblind interpreting, and access services. Directly competes with Clarion in B2B BSL interpreter supply across public and private sectors in the UK.

Broad incumbents

• LanguageLine Solutions: US-headquartered global leader in interpretation and translation services, offering phone, video, and onsite interpretation across 240+ languages. Overlaps with Clarion in spoken/sign language interpretation at scale, but focuses on broader language pairs and global enterprise customers.

Others

• thebigword Group: Parent company of Clarion UK since March 2024. A UK-based PE-backed language technology company providing spoken-language interpretation, translation, and the AI-driven WordSynk platform. Directly comparable as a language services provider and adjacent in customer verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_clarion_
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClarionSupport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/880148
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarionuk

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Clarion UK