Thebigword’s Afghanistan contract

A YORKSHIRE-based translation firm is set to play a major role in helping the UK military to achieve a peaceful departure from Afghanistan.

Thebigword has fought off global competition to secure a contract with the Ministry of Defence to provide interpreters to support UK operations in Afghanistan. The three-year contract will cover the period of planned withdrawal of combat troops by NATO and the handover to Afghan security forces.

The interpreters will work under the leadership of UK Military Commanders and accompany British troops on patrols.

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They will help to improve communications between the troops and the local population, the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. Thebigword linguists will also provide interpreting and translation services in UK bases.

Andrew Smith, a retired lieutenant colonel, who will head up thebigword’s military division, said: “This is a highly sensitive and very influential role as NATO hands over the security reins in the run-up to the 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of combat troops.

“It’s about winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people and making the transition smoother.

“We are the linchpin in bringing down the language barrier. The impact of inaccurate translations cannot be underscored enough.”

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Mr Smith, who retired from the Royal Army Medical Corps in 2008 after 30 years’ service in the British army, served in the Gulf War of 1991, and helped to ensure that the troops who liberated Kuwait had the right equipment.

He will be travelling to Helmand Province during June to make preparations for the arrival of the first group of seven interpreters. By the New Year, it is expected that thebigword will have sent 42 interpreters to Afghanistan.

Thebigword, which is based in Leeds, won the contract in a competitive tender. According to Larry Gould, thebigword’s chief executive, the contract had previously been held by Worldwide Language Resources, which is based in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the US. The value of the contract cannot be revealed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

“We have got a really good reputation with the UK Government,’’ Mr Gould said. “This contract does put our soldiers in a safer position, because there’s a lot of emphasis on relationship building with the people of Afghanistan.”

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The company will be responsible for the recruitment and security clearance of interpreters. It has formed a partnership with the International School of Linguists to provide specialist training. Interpreters will need to be fluent in Pashto, Dari or Baluchi.

Mr Gould, who founded the business in 1980, said the contract win was a proud day for Leeds, because Leeds Metropolitan University’s school of languages had helped to devise the training programme for the interpreters who will serve in Afghanistan.

He added: “It hasn’t been easy to get the right people. They have to be physically and mentally robust. Its a very austere and very hot environment.”

The initial group of seven interpreters are mainly Afghans with UK passports who have experience of working with the British or US armies. Mr Smith said the selection process had been rigorous and, apart from their language skills, the recruits had to take part in fitness tests.

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Although the initial batch of interpreters are all men, there is at least one woman on the reserve list. Mr Gould said thebigword had seen its turnover rise by four per cent this year to £42m. The company has 250 staff at its Leeds headquarters, and a further 250 employees in nine other countries. It uses 4,000 interpreters worldwide and has around 8,000 clients.