Celebrating 20 years of translation

A translation co-operative which began in Rochdale will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month.

Elite Language Services began in 1989 to provide specialist language services for businesses involved in international trade and negotiation.

In the early days a large portion of the company's work came from local manufacturing and textile industries but as the economy has changed, so has the nature of their translation.

John Cottam, a founding member and a director, said: “During the last 10 years, we have started to work in a range of oriental and Eastern European languages, in addition to the European languages of French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, which was the focus originally. Today the co-operative is just as likely to be translating Mandarin and Polish.”

The co-operative also provides it services to a number of high profile Premiership footballers, and Mr Cottam even taught Eric Cantona English during his time with Manchester United.