Intercultural Communication and Translation News

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‘You don’t have to go to university to succeed.’
My name is Megan Elliott and I’ve recently started an apprenticeship at Kwintessential. I’ve been an apprentice for a week now and I can honestly say leaving university was the best thing that I could have done.
When I was studying for my A Levels, I remember there being such an emphasis on the importance of going to university in order to get ‘a good job’. It’s interesting to consider, then, that students in the UK applying to university for autumn 2012 has dropped by 7.6%. An article in the Guardian tells us that this is feared to be because of the fact that it could cost up to £9,000 a year. An extortionate increase when one considers that universities are already giving students a nice £30,000 debt to look forward to at the end of their studies.
University wasn’t for me for in so many ways, but I will admit that I felt the cost to play a big part in my decision to leave. I did not feel that the tuition I was getting was worth the debt that I would have to pay off for years to come. I studied Psychology, and after being at university for 4 months I honestly felt disappointed and upset that I had left my full-time job. I thought the lectures lacked any real energy or anything special to separate it from sixth form. Ultimately, there was nothing that made me feel better about the fact that I had spent all of my savings on a degree. When I was having doubts towards the end of my time at university, I had so many people tell me that “it’s the degree that counts”, but all I could think was, “but what does it count for, and what are my job prospects in getting a career in Psychology upon graduation?”
Despite the fact that people think university is about freedom and really ‘getting out there’, I couldn’t have felt more trapped. Having a very small amount of money compared to what I had been used to made me feel like I had less independence than I did when I was living at home. Essentially, I felt like I had no drive or desire to achieve or even try at university because I found the course and lack of routine or discipline so demoralising.

I knew that I wanted to leave university. I also knew that I wanted to continue to learn, grow and have someone that cared about my progress on a deeper level – not like the one-off chat you have with your tutor at university once a year. This is when I started looking for apprenticeships. After around one month, eight applications and two interviews, I got my apprenticeship.
I have no regrets about leaving university. After being at Kwintessential for a week I already know that I am in a far better place than I was 4 months ago. Most importantly, I know that I can succeed and progress within a career that does not require me to be poor for a large part of my life, or be filled with doubt about my progression and constantly asking myself, “is this right?” I know this is right and I cannot wait to see where I am this time next year. You don’t have to go to university to succeed and it is my intention to prove that.

Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands? Some of the questions a business traveller to a new country may be asking prior to landing. Making a good impression is important however is it all about etiquette? Kwintessential have today released a new App based on the research of Professor Hofstede which takes a more behavioural view of working in a foreign country.
International business travel is big. With people zipping north, south, east and west on a daily basis it has never been more important to take into consideration cultural differences.  The business world is full of examples of culture gone wrong. Understanding, appreciating and adapting to another’s culture is crucial in the modern business world. However it isn’t all about shaking hands or kissing.
“The kiss, bow or shake hands approach has its place within international business. However, we really feel people gain a cultural advantage when they concentrate on areas like behaviour, communication and general approach,” explains Neil Payne, Managing Director at Kwintessential. As a result the company decided to create a free App which offers tips and pointers on behaviour based around real academic research.
The App, named ‘Compare Cultures’, uses the work of renowned academic Professor Hofstede. He is a well-known pioneer in his research of cross-cultural groups and organizations. Using his research, the App allows you to choose two countries to compare [culturally speaking]. A neat graph is produced which illustrates where the countries may conflict. Useful tips are offered to help overcome the potential conflicts and ensure any business relationships gets off to a good start.
The App is completely free and available for download at Compare Cultures

Kwintessential Relationship Manager, Phil Reynolds, took part in three Santa fun runs this month to raise money for the Children’s Hospice South West.

Phil Reynolds, 27, donned his red suit and beard to take part in Santas on the Run in Bath, Bristol and Wells.

He joined hundreds of people taking to the streets in each of these scenic cities dressed in Santa suits to raise awareness and much-needed funds for Children’s Hospice South West.

Mr Reynolds said Bath was his favourite as the Santas had a lot of encouragement from passers-by – with some even singing Christmas carols.

Some of his fellow Santas were running with dogs and some were even pushing buggies decorated in tinsel.

The 2k runs were no problem for Mr Reynolds who runs and also plays rugby, but he said the third Santa run in Wells was the hardest as he had been up most of the night with his five-month-old daughter Maggie.

He said: “Wells was the most difficult for me. I’d been up all night and I was convinced they’d made it longer.”

Mr Reynolds was representing his Crewkerne-based company Kwintessential which made CHSW its charity of the year.

The company has been fundraising for the charity with various events throughout the year and has so far raised more than £7,000.

Mr Reynolds added: “We went for a charity that was local and we could really get involved in. Many of us have got children so we can appreciate the work that the hospice does.”

Mr Reynolds said he was looking forward to running next year and he might even take on all six in the South West if they weren’t on the same day.

Sophie Crossman, events fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West, said: “We are really grateful to Phil for all the support he has shown us throughout the year. He will certainly be in Santa’s good books this Christmas.”

Press release: 28 November 2011
For immediate release

A 27 year old father of one from Chard is spreading festive cheer throughout the West Country by signing up to take part in three of CHSW’s Santas on the Run events.

Phil Reynolds will be donning his Santa suit at the 2k fun runs taking place in Bath (1 Dec), Bristol (4 Dec) and Wells (11 Dec). He will be joined by hundreds of people taking to the streets in each of these scenic cities dressed in Santa suits to raise awareness and much needed funds for Children’s Hospice South West.

Phil, Relationship Manager at Crewkerne based company, Kwintessential said: “Taking part in three of CHSW’s Santas on the Run events will certainly be a memorable start to the festive season. CHSW is one of Kwintessential’s chosen charities and I’ve also taken part in a corporate challenge and a firewalk in support of the charity this year. It’s great to be able to enjoy so many different experiences whilst raising money for such an amazing cause.”

Sophie Crossman, events fundraiser for Children’s Hospice South West said: “We are really grateful to Phil for all the support he has shown us throughout the year. He will certainly be in Santa’s good books this Christmas! If anyone else out there fancies joining an event with a festive difference there is still time to sign up.

To support Phil please donate at Kwintessential’s CHSW page.

To register for Santas on the Run please visit www.chsw.org.uk/santas or call 01275 866 600. All runners must register in advance as it will not be possible to register on the day.

Entry is just £10.00 per adult and just £5 for children and your Santa suit is included!

Notes to editors:
Santas on the Run: Santas on the Run is a national series of fun runs in Santa costume, organised by children’s hospices and Children’s Hospices UK, working in partnership. Details of all the events can be found on the website www.santasontherun.org.uk

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Children’s Hospice South West

1. Chief Executive Eddie Farwell and his late wife Jill who had two life-limited children set up the charity, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), in 1991 and opened the first children’s hospice in the South West, Little Bridge House in Barnstaple, in September 1995.
2. CHSW is the only organisation in the South West providing hospice care to life-limited children and their families, in a hospice environment, from across the South West; from South Gloucester, Bristol, Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
3. Little Bridge House very quickly became oversubscribed and CHSW opened their second hospice, Charlton Farm, near Bristol in April 2007.
4. Charlton Farm offers a real home from home environment, including a main living area that forms the heart and soul of the house, cosy lounges, a messy play room for carefree creativity, a multi sensory room with lights, sounds and textures to soothe and calm, a soft play area for safe, trouble-free fun and a jacuzzi for relieving stiff joins and muscle spasms. Not forgetting the beautiful gardens that surround the house including the Sunken Retreat (based on JRR Tolkien’s book The Hobbit) which opened in October 2009.
5. At Charlton Farm there are 8 child-friendly bedrooms that have minimal medical equipment and are decorated with favourite books, toys and DVDs for each child who stays. There is lovely accommodation for the rest of the family too.
6. There are around 30 staff on the care team at Charlton Farm. Half are Registered Sick Children’s Nurses, the others come from a variety of backgrounds and include teachers, nursery nurses, play specialists, social workers and physios.
7. CHSW has reached the Precious Lives Appeal target of £5 million to build a third children’s hospice in Cornwall, Little Harbour. We can now continue to fundraise to fit out and furnish the hospice and raise funds towards running costs.
8. Little Harbour will open its doors to the first families in December.

For further information please contact Zoe Mason, Press Officer for Children’s Hospice South West, on 01275 866600 or please email zoe.mason@chsw.org.uk

It’s not every day you come into contact with the world’s greatest footballer. So we thought we’d shout about it. Well done to Kwintessential’s Paola who was lucky enough to act as Messi’s interpreter yesterday in Barcelona.

Previously, the nearest we have got to such footballing royalty was when I met Diego Maradona in Istanbul (below). I wish! He as a waiter, but you have to admit he is a good lookalike…

Dear blog-reading enthusiasts,

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself…

I am a football fan, fitness fanatic (although I don’t look like it), lover of travel, food, drink and riding roller-coasters. However most importantly, I am a Relationship Manager at Kwintessential having started at the very beginning of January. My job is primarily focused on client contact, making sure that all of our clients are happy with what we do, and the processes on which we operate. This of course changes from business to business so it is important that you are able to adapt to cater for their needs.
From here on in you will be hearing a lot more from me as I write about my thoughts and experiences on the cross-cultural industry, news on translation and interpreting, and anything I think you will find interesting…which is in fact most things. I have been given the task of making my posts thoroughly interesting, thought-provoking and in some places, incredibly funny. No pressure then.

So look out for my first proper post which will be coming very soon!

Cheerio (need a better sign-off),

Ben Lewis+

Monday 19th September 2011: Expanding firm Kwintessential have further tied the company’s future to Somerset with an investment in new offices. Now based in Crewkerne, the once one-man operation has grown to become a global player with offices in London, California, Buenos Aires, Cape Town and Dubai.  Passionate about Somerset, the Managing Director, Neil Payne, is proud the company’s HQ still remains in the county and contributes to its economic development.
Established in 2004, Kwintessential provide clients with solutions to language and cultural business challenges. Translation, interpreting, multilingual design and cultural awareness training are but a few of their services.  The company was relocated to Somerset in 2007. Since then it has grown from being a one-man operation to turning over nearly £2 million, employing over 20 fulltime staff in the UK and overseeing four offices globally.
“We have some very exciting times ahead of us,” states Neil Payne. “The latest investment shows passion and commitment to our goals, our team, our clients and our county. We, along with many other local companies, show that Somerset is a success story and will continue to be. It’s a fantastic place to be.”
The new offices in Crewkerne Business Park mark a new chapter for the firm as it evolves into a medium sized company. Focused on providing complete solutions to clients from translating websites to graphic design to cultural consultancy, the company is also dedicated to ensuring satisfaction. Their recent Customer Satisfaction Survey (August 2011) saw 95% of clients stating they will return to Kwintessential for future work. The survey pointed to value for money, quality, timeliness and understanding needs as the reasons behind such positive feedback.

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We thought we would clear up a small issue that has come to light over the past week. Despite our credentials as being the fashionistas of the translation & intepreting sector   we can’t lay claim to the Kwintessential tumblr page.

Now, we would love to have the time to write on Courtside Chic and Monday Morning Fashion Fix, but we are far too busy concentrating on our day to day activities.

So for all our fans, apologies but we are not getting into the fashion industry just yet!

by Neil Payne