What Performance Interpreting does

Performance Interpreting Ltd is a UK-based provider of British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services for live events, founded in 2015 and registered in Sidcup, UK. The company coordinates a network of 100+ NRCPD-registered interpreters to deliver end-to-end Deaf access at concerts, festivals, sports fixtures, arenas, theatres, comedy shows, and broadcast events. Its core offering combines interpreter sourcing, briefing, team design, production coordination (sight-line placement, lighting, stage positioning), and on-site management, supplemented by a Deaf Access Consultancy that advises on compliance with the Equality Act 2010, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The company is the appointed Deaf Access provider for Wembley Stadium and the 2023 King's Coronation, and counts Premier League clubs, the BBC, Channel 4, Sky, ITV, UEFA, The FA, Royal Albert Hall, The O2, Live Nation, and Festival Republic among its enterprise clients.

The company operates three interconnected revenue streams: (1) project-based interpreting services for event organisers and venues (the primary revenue stream, priced per engagement); (2) PI Academy, a wholly-owned training subsidiary offering NRCPD-approved CPD courses priced £50-£595, one-to-one mentoring at £45-£60 per session, free and paid Song Club cohorts, and Personalised Pathways programmes; and (3) consumer-side demand generation through the PI Events App, a free iOS/Android application enabling Deaf audiences to discover interpreted events, request access, and use at-event support tools. The PI Events App is free and serves as a customer acquisition channel rather than a direct revenue source. The company is privately held, founder-led, and bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding rounds. It is self-described as the UK and Ireland's largest performance interpreting provider, with 6 core employees and a 100+ interpreter network operating largely on a freelance/contractor basis.

Name

Performance Interpreting

Legal name

Performance Interpreting Ltd

Website

https://performanceinterpreting.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Performance Interpreting coordinates a 100+ interpreter network to deliver BSL and ISL interpretation at live events across the UK and Ireland, serving event organisers, venues, sports clubs, and broadcasters with end-to-end Deaf access services and a training academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sign Language Interpretation Services

NAICS

Translation and Interpretation Services (541930), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Simultaneous Interpretation, Translation & Conference Audio (Interpretation Booths, Infrared) (THAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• BSL interpretation services
• Deaf access consultancy
• Sign language interpreting
• Interpreter training courses
• Live event accessibility

Headquarters

HQ city

Sidcup

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Live Event Interpreting Services: BSL and ISL interpreting services for live events including concerts, festivals, sports events, theatre, comedy, and broadcast. PI handles interpreter sourcing, briefing, team design, and on-site coordination. Revenue is project/contract-based based on event scale and requirements.
2. PI Academy Training Courses: CPD courses, workshops, retreats, and mentoring for sign language interpreters and Deaf performers. Courses range from £50 to £595. Revenue generated through course fees, deposits, and instalment payments via Klarna.
3. Mentoring Services: One-to-one mentoring sessions with experienced performance interpreters at £45-£60 per session. Personalised Pathways programme matches interpreters with mentors based on goals.
4. PI Events App: Free app for Deaf audiences providing event discovery, interpreter requests, and access tools. Serves as customer acquisition channel for interpreting services rather than direct revenue source.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Performance Interpreting provides on-demand British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation services for live events including concerts, festivals, sport, theatre, comedy, and broadcast. Beyond interpreter booking, the company offers deaf-access consultancy, mediation support, mentoring for trainee interpreters, and an online training academy (PI Academy) delivering accredited CPD courses, with the PI Events mobile app serving as a free accessibility tool for Deaf audiences.

Product overview

Performance Interpreting operates as a unified platform with three interconnected service pillars: (1) Core Interpreter Services providing BSL and ISL interpreting for live events including concerts, festivals, sport, theatre, comedy, and broadcast; (2) PI Events App - a free mobile application enabling Deaf audiences to discover interpreted events, request access, and use on-site tools; and (3) PI Academy - a professional development platform offering NRCPD-approved CPD courses, mentoring, Song Club sessions, and Personalised Pathways for sign language interpreters and Deaf performers. The company also provides Deaf Access Consultancy services for venues and event organisers seeking legal compliance and access planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PI Academy: Professional development division offering CPD courses, mentoring, and training for sign language interpreters and Deaf performers.

Products and services

• Core Interpreter Booking and Coordination
• Deaf Access Consultancy
• Mediation Support
• PI Academy Online Training Platform
• Mentoring Programme
• Personalised Professional Pathways
• PI Events Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• Wembley Stadium committed to BSL interpreting at every concert as standard - a first for any national stadium
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• Wembley StadiumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed Deaf Access provider for Wembley Stadium. BSL interpreting at every concert is now standard practice at the national stadium. Also covers FA Cup finals, EFL Cup finals, and international fixtures. This flagship partnership establishes the operational standard for stadium Deaf access across the UK.
• Southbank CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for BSL access at Southbank Centre events including Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, and RFH venues.
• The O2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership providing BSL interpretation at The O2 Arena and indigo at The O2 for concerts, comedy, and entertainment events.
• Festival RepubliccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival Republic partnership covering Reading Festival, Leeds Festival, Brighton Pride, London Pride, Manchester Pride, and other festivals in their portfolio.
• Live NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert and festival BSL interpretation across Live Nation venues and events in the UK and Ireland.
• BBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast BSL interpretation and media coverage. Projects include Eurovision, Strictly Come Dancing, Paralympics/Olympics, Parliament TV, and various broadcast television programmes.
• Channel 4coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast BSL interpretation for Channel 4 productions and television coverage.
• SkycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast BSL interpretation for Sky productions and sports coverage.
• ITVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast BSL interpretation for ITV productions including Code of Silence (award-winning series).
• Arsenal FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier League match-day BSL interpretation at Emirates Stadium. Partnership with Cadbury featuring Ian Wright and first team for Deaf fan engagement.
• Chelsea FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier League match-day BSL interpretation at Stamford Bridge.
• Fulham FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier League match-day BSL interpretation at Craven Cottage.
• West Ham UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier League match-day BSL interpretation at London Stadium.
• The FAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body partnership for cup finals and national events including FA Cup Final and EFL Cup Final.
• UEFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean football governing body partnership for international fixtures and events at UK venues.
• Croke ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland's largest stadium for GAA events with BSL/ISL interpretation for major sporting events.
• England NetballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational netball fixtures BSL interpretation.
• NFL UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmerican football events BSL interpretation in the UK.
• Royal Albert HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSL interpretation at Royal Albert Hall concerts and events.
• RoundhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSL interpretation at Roundhouse venue events.
• Labyrinth SupervisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecommended supervision partner. Labyrinth is a directory of BSL interpreters qualified as Professional Supervisors through 360 Supervision. PI recommends all interpreters explore professional supervision through Labyrinth.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Signature: UK awarding body for deafness and sign language qualifications, including BSL and interpreter certifications, and host of the Hall of Fame that inducted PI in 2022. Comparable as the industry's credentialing authority whose qualifications underpin PI's interpreter quality standards and Academy CPD approvals.
• NRCPD: UK National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People — the voluntary regulator of sign language interpreters and translators. Comparable as the regulatory body whose registration underwrites PI's 100+ interpreter network and whose CPD scheme accredits PI Academy courses.

Direct peers

• Sign Solutions: One of the largest UK-based BSL/ISL interpreting agencies providing on-site, video remote, and video relay interpreting across corporate, legal, healthcare and event settings. Directly comparable to Performance Interpreting as a BSL interpreting provider with overlapping customer types in events and broadcast.
• Language Empire: UK interpreting and translation provider offering face-to-face, telephone, video remote, and BSL interpreting across more than 200 languages. Direct overlap with PI on BSL event and corporate interpreting services, though operating at a broader, less performance-specialist scale.
• Remark! Interpreting: UK-based BSL interpreting and translation agency with a Deaf-owned model and broad coverage across conferences, events, legal, and corporate work. Comparable as a direct BSL interpretation competitor serving enterprise clients, though with less specialisation in performance settings than PI.

Emerging players

• Action Deafness: UK Deaf-led charity providing communication support, Deaf awareness training, and BSL interpreting services. Comparable as a Deaf-community-rooted provider of interpreting and training, operating at smaller scale than PI but addressing overlapping customer segments in events and education.
• AccessAble: UK provider of detailed accessibility information for venues, events and attractions, used by event organisers to publish access guides for disabled visitors including Deaf audiences. Comparable as an accessibility-focused provider in the live-event space, addressing the same Deaf community need through information rather than live interpretation.
• iBSL: Online BSL learning platform offering structured courses for hearing learners and CPD for interpreters. Comparable as a BSL training provider that addresses the same interpreter development pipeline that PI Academy serves, though from a self-paced online model rather than PI's specialist in-person performance courses.

Broad incumbents

• LanguageLine Solutions: Global leader in interpretation services including on-demand video, telephone, and in-person interpreting with BSL capability in the UK. Comparable as a scaled interpretation incumbent that competes for enterprise interpretation budgets, including events and broadcast, though not performance-specialist.
• The Big Word: One of the UK's largest language services companies offering translation, interpreting (including BSL), localisation and language technology across public sector, corporate and event clients. Comparable as a broad incumbent interpretation provider; not specialised in performance BSL/ISL but addresses adjacent event and broadcast interpretation budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/performinterp
• Facebookfacebook.com/performanceinterpreting
• Instagraminstagram.com/performanceinterpreting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/performance-interpreting

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 Performance Interpreting