Happy Birthday, Alexika: We’re Celebrating 20 Years of Translation!

To celebrate the occasion, we’d like to invite our clients, suppliers, partners and friends to join us for an Open Office day at the Addingham office on Friday, 30th November from 9am–5pm for drinks and nibbles. Please let us know by phone or email to mail@alexika.com for catering purposes if you would like to call in any time.

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Alexika!

Ou peut-être, joyeux anniversaire ?

Forse buon compleanno?

Regardless of how you say it (and, rest assured, our translators across the world certainly know a fair few ways between them) - we’re celebrating a very special occasion: another birthday! This year, we’re unbelievably proud to be celebrating our 20th anniversary at Alexika. That’s right - we’ve been producing high-quality translations since 1998. Hasn’t time flown?

We’ve had the incredibly good fortune of working with some remarkable people. We’d like to celebrate everyone that has made the past 20 years so special.

Our people, community and clients!

The indispensable cog in Alexika’s machine is our translators, who continue to inspire awe on a daily basis. Their work, which encompasses an unimaginable range of projects for a diverse base of sectors, is as impressive as it is often technical.

They’re the ones who create the magic at Alexika. Without them, and their expertise, we wouldn’t have been able to deliver such high-quality, often highly-specialised translations for such a breadth of industries.

That’s not to forget our fantastic clients - some of whom have been with us for a remarkable amount of time - who have been, and continue to be, a pleasure to work with.

Alexika’s journey so far...

Whilst we love languages, the memories are about people. Let’s reminisce by taking a look back at some of our milestones…

1998 - Alexika was founded by an Anglo/German team including Mark Robinson, a Lancaster University German Studies graduate with 10 years of experience selling industrial goods around Europe and elsewhere. The first clients were in the local textiles and engineering industries, and they were soon joined by local patent attorneys.

2003 – Alexika moves to the current HQ building at 93 Main Street in Addingham. A visit from local historian Arnold Pacey put its origins in the 1770s, when it was probably part of the textiles industry. Below is how it looked when the Tour De France cycle race passed our door in 2014.

2008 – Italian and Spanish Studies graduate Gemma Smith (née Cooper - now Gemma’s wedding was definitely a highlight!) joins the company after her MA in Translation from Salford University, initially as Translations Coordinator and becomes Translations and Training Manager.

2016 – By now, there are around 400 freelance translators working with Alexika, and we are constantly amazed at the depth and breadth of their skills – and so many are a great pleasure to work with. Following our nomination, Jacqui Birnie, one of Alexika’s freelance translators, is awarded runner-up in the Freelance Supplier category at the Association of Translation Companies’ (ATC) 2016 Language Industry Summit Awards - as one of only three shortlisted linguists.

2017 – This year we have a wedding, a birth and an engagement around the office! Also Alexika strengthens the links with Lancaster University - Liam Kinney joins the Alexika team at the HQ in Addingham as a Translations Coordinator. Liam initially spent time at the company as part of his MA in French Translation, which he studied at Lancaster.

2018 - Alexika turns 20!

We must also mention in particular long-terms colleagues (almost 40 years between them!) Sabi, Helen, Diane and Becky. You have each added your own unique personal, linguistic and human skills - thank you all very much for your hard work and for your camaraderie.

Whether you’re a former or current translator or client, there’s no overstating the importance that each and every person has had in Alexika’s journey so far - so be part of our next 20 years!

Categories: Company News

View other blog posts from: Oct, 2018