Cleveland Cascades
With 97 per cent of its sales coming from non-UK markets, Cleveland Cascades knows that sound international communications are vital to its success.
Based in Middlesbrough, Cleveland Cascades is a lifting gear manufacturer and the company, with a staff of eight, boasts a turnover of £1.1 million.
Cleveland Cascades trades extensively with countries across Europe to the Middle East, including Norway, Russia, Cuba and Lithuania. And to reach all these customers, the company has invested heavily in improving its export communications.
Cleveland Cascades is already ahead of the game with the language skills of multilingual Office Manager, Carolynn Gee, who speaks French and German to degree level. This means that the company can actually deal with many enquiries in customers' own language.
Kevin Quinn, Planning & Procurement Manager and Carolynn Gee Office Manager.
Given the linguistic diversity of the company's target markets, Cleveland Cascades has sought to translate essential documents, sales literature, brochures, letters and company profiles for its overseas customers.
And with the continuing need to keep in touch with all its customers, Cleveland Cascades has translated its website into five languages - French, German, Russian, Spanish and Italian.
Most recently, the company has been involved in lengthy negotiations to secure a large order with a state-owned phosphate company in Morocco. As part of the process, Cleveland Cascades has invested considerable sums in the translation of tender documents, with a view to securing the deal.
And Managing Director Ian Barnard says it isn't just the linguistic differences that are apparent: "When we were there we were acutely aware of the cultural differences in the way of doing business. To have all our tender documents and essential pieces of sales literature translated into their mother tongue was absolutely essential to our success."
And the work doesn't stop there: Cleveland Cascades is already preparing to translate essential company literature into Norwegian.
In recent months, it has had almost £3,500-worth of translation work done and received more than £1,300 in financial assistance through the ERDF funding, administered by the Regional Language Network North East. The development of its international communications strategy has enabled Cleveland Cascades not only to consolidate existing contracts but also develop new business in new markets.
The entire workforce has been safeguarded by the company's ongoing commitment to effective communication in existing and potential export markets.
Ian Barnard adds: "Translating documents is vital for our business and the RLN has enabled us to make significant investments in reaching our markets."
Manager of the Regional Language Network North East, Zélie Guérin, agrees: "Cleveland Cascades proves that the financial assistance available for translating documents and web localisation can significantly improve a company's bottom line."
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