thebigword is Re-Awarded DWP Contract

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it has re-awarded its contract to provide Telephone Interpreting for public sector bodies to thebigwordGroup.

The decision will reduce DWP interpreting costs by up to 40 per cent, increase interpreting quality standards, and create or safeguard 38 jobs in Leeds.

The four-year contract was won by thebigword, which is the UK’s biggest language services company, following a competitive tender.

Telephone Interpreting allows two people who speak different languages to converse one-to-one over the telephone via an interpreter who comes on to the call. It is a vital service to enable public sector bodies to communicate with people who don’t have English as their first language. It is widely used by the NHS, Police, Immigration Services, Revenue & Customs, airport security and emergency services, among others.

thebigword held the outgoing DWP contract and the re-award is based on the company’s competitive bid.

To deliver the Telephone Interpreting service, thebigword has two established UK-based call centres, in Leeds and London, backed by sophisticated telephony and IT systems, many of which have been pioneered by thebigword.

James Williams, European Interpreting Sales Director at thebigword, says: “We’re delighted that thebigword has been re-awarded the Department for Work and Pensions’ contract”.

“Government departments and the wider public sector have an ongoing commitment, and a legal requirement, to provide interpreters for people who can’t speak English. Our investment in technology to support our linguists providing this service enables us to get a live interpreter on the telephone, usually in seconds. This can literally mean the difference between life and death.”

The DWP award follows a number of contract wins in the UK and United States which are set to propel thebigword into the world top five language service providers. thebigword has just been included in The Sunday Times International Fast Track 100 for the first time, having increased international sales by 55.42 per cent over the past year.

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