A North East translation firm is putting its language skills to wider use with the help a five-figure investment.
Papillon Translations has spent more than four years developing an app that can provide commentary in a range of languages in locations such as museums and other tourist destinations.
The Newcstle city centre business has now worked with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to secure a £50,000 investment to increase its marketing activity and help bring its new system fully to market.
READ MORE: {}
It has received the investment from the North East Small Loan Fund, supported by The European Regional Development Fund, a £9m fund which typically offers loans of between £10,000 and £50,000 to businesses in Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland.
Papillon’s app is already being used successfully in the James Herriot Museum in Thirsk and at the York Museums Trust’s Bedern Hall site, and discussions are now being planned with venues right around the 海角视频.
The app uses a QR code that users can scan to bring up the relevant commentary in the language of their choice, but also allows images to be scanned instead, so that exhibits don’t need to have any markers placed on or around them if museums don’t want to do so.
As well as written descriptions, the app also provides an audio option, with information recorded by the translators themselves to ensure accuracy.
Papillon Translations was founded five years ago by former pilot Steve Kent, who spotted a gap in the market when his French wife Sandra was carrying out some translation work.
Most Read
It now has 15,000 translators on its books who work in 172 different languages, and it can offer over 250 different language pairings.
All its work is carried out by people predominantly based in the countries where their respective languages are spoken, and work is allocated, carried out and checked through a secure online environment.
Papillon works with firms and organisations including the BBC and NHS, and was called in by NewcastleGateshead Initiative to work on the World Transplant Games that were recently held in the North East.
Mr Kent said: “We’ve spent a lot of time ensuring that the app is fully fit for purpose and now have a fantastic product that will make a real difference to the user experiences that museums and other such venues can offer their visitors.
“There’s nothing like this system on the market at the moment and the feedback we’re getting on how well-received it has been at the locations in which it’s currently being used is extremely encouraging.
“Our aim now is to maximise our marketing activity, increase the number of locations in which the app is being used and build the widest-possible practical understanding of what it can offer.
More North East news
“Being able to discuss our business plan and investment needs in person with the NEL team was a big plus for us and made negotiating the investment process easy for us.”
Don’t miss
Craig Horsfall, associate partner in Haines Watts Chartered Accountants’ Newcastle office, worked with the Papillon management team through the investment process.
Mike Guellard, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, added: “The Papillon team has created a user friendly and flexible system that has huge potential for adoption by a wide range of venues and will significantly enhance the experience that patrons get out of their visits.”