+44 203 086 9416 sales@lingvohouse.com

Translation Services for UK Councils & Public Sector Bodies

UK public sector bodies — councils, NHS trusts, government agencies, and arm’s-length bodies — commission translation services within a defined procurement environment. Framework agreements, direct award thresholds, audit requirements, and community language obligations mean that choosing a translation supplier is not simply a matter of price or turnaround. It requires a supplier that understands the procurement route, holds the relevant certifications, and can deliver across the full range of languages a public body’s communities actually speak.

 

LingvoHouse is an approved supplier on the NHS Shared Business Services framework, the ESPO framework, and the NOE CPC Language Services framework — awarded 2024–2028. Public sector bodies can instruct LingvoHouse directly under these frameworks without a separate tender process, satisfying procurement compliance requirements from the outset.

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Trusted by public sector organisations including

What LingvoHouse Delivers for Public Sector Clients

Public sector translation work spans a wide range of document types and urgency levels. LingvoHouse handles the full scope, from routine communications to time-critical public health campaigns:

Community language translation — Public-facing documents including leaflets, letters, notices, consent forms, and welfare communications, translated across the languages spoken by a council or trust’s local population. LingvoHouse covers more than 200 languages, with core European, Middle Eastern, and Asian pairs handled by in-house specialists.

Multilingual DTP and print-ready output — Where translated documents must match an existing design — council-branded leaflets, NHS patient information, public health posters — LingvoHouse handles multilingual typesetting to produce print-ready files in InDesign, PDF, and Word formats. Translated layout is managed in-house, not outsourced.

Certified translation — For documents requiring formal certification — legal notices, statutory declarations, immigration-related materials — LingvoHouse provides translation under an ISO 17100-certified workflow with an audit-ready process record.

Urgent and campaign translation — Public health campaigns, emergency communications, and election materials frequently require translation across multiple languages to a fixed deadline. LingvoHouse handles high-volume, multi-language projects with a dedicated project manager coordinating delivery across all language versions.

Interpreting and language access support — In addition to document translation, LingvoHouse supports public sector bodies with language access requirements including telephone, video remote, and face-to-face interpreting across community languages.

Language pairs available include French, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, alongside a broad range of community languages including Polish, Urdu, Punjabi, Somali, Bengali, and Romanian.

Who Uses This Service

Council procurement officers and commissioning leads

responsible for establishing or renewing translation supplier arrangements. LingvoHouse’s approval on the NHS SBS, ESPO, and NOE CPC frameworks means procurement can proceed via direct award where thresholds permit, without a new competitive exercise.

NHS communications and patient experience teams

commissioning patient information materials, consent documentation, and public health communications in community languages. Accurate, accessible translation of clinical and health information is a patient safety requirement, not an optional extra.

Public health and local authority communications teams

producing multilingual campaign materials — leaflets, posters, digital content — for distribution across diverse communities. Tight publication deadlines and multi-language requirements are standard for this work.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion leads

responsible for ensuring council and public body communications meet accessibility and language equity obligations under the Equality Act 2010.

Legal and governance teams

within public bodies requiring certified translation of statutory documents, notices, or immigration-related materials for casework or legal proceedings.

Claire Goodey

NHS South East London ICB

I was so impressed at the quick turnaround and the quality of the output. Not only was the text I provided translated into Bengali and Spanish but the formatting of the PowerPoint I shared was exactly as the English version, so I didn't have to tidy it up at all. I am really pleased with the service provided by LingvoHouse.

How We Work

Brief Us

Need an agile translation partner? We adapt to your needs. Hit the Get Started button to submit your files for a quote via our intuitive portal or book a 1-2-1 call to brief us for a more complex job. 

 

Human & AI Translation

Our experts deploy human linguists or AI technology (or both) to get you high-quality translation at speed & scale, adapted for business purpose.

Integrated Workflow

For hands-off exchange of content requiring translation, we can integrate with your own systems and processes, so that deployment of translation becomes a seamless semi-automated process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can councils and NHS bodies use LingvoHouse without a tender process?

Public sector bodies can instruct LingvoHouse directly under the NHS Shared Business Services framework, the ESPO framework, or the NOE CPC Language Services framework — awarded to LingvoHouse for the period 2024–2028. Direct award is available under each framework where the relevant thresholds are met, without the need for a separate competitive exercise. LingvoHouse can provide the framework reference documentation required for procurement records on request.

What community languages does LingvoHouse cover?

LingvoHouse covers more than 200 languages. Core language pairs for public sector work include Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish, Polish, Urdu, Punjabi, Somali, Bengali, Romanian, and many others. Where a specific community language requirement is not listed, contact LingvoHouse via lingvohouse.com to confirm availability and turnaround.

Does LingvoHouse provide certified translation for legal and statutory documents?

Certified translation is available for statutory notices, legal declarations, immigration-related documents, and other materials requiring a formal certification statement. All translation work is carried out under an ISO 17100-certified workflow, providing an auditable process record. Certification requirements should be confirmed at instruction stage so the appropriate output is produced.

How does LingvoHouse handle urgent public sector translation requirements?

Urgent translation is available, including same-day and overnight turnaround for qualifying document types and volumes. For public health campaigns, emergency communications, or election materials requiring multiple languages to a fixed deadline, LingvoHouse assigns a dedicated project manager to coordinate all language versions against the publication schedule. Early instruction is recommended for high-volume multi-language projects.

What quality and security standards does LingvoHouse hold?

LingvoHouse holds ISO 17100 certification for translation services management, ISO 27001 certification for information security management, and ISO 9001 certification for quality management. It is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and is recognised on the Slator 2024 Boutique Language Service Provider Index. For public sector clients handling sensitive personal or clinical data, ISO 27001 certification confirms that document security is managed to an independently audited standard.

Credentials and Quality Standards

LingvoHouse is an approved supplier on the NHS Shared Business Services, ESPO, and NOE CPC frameworks, providing a compliant procurement route for public sector bodies without the need for a separate tender. It holds ISO 17100 certification for translation services management, ISO 27001 for information security, and ISO 9001 for quality management — certifications that are directly relevant to public sector procurement requirements. LingvoHouse is also a Corporate Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and an Accredited Living Wage Employer.

For public sector bodies requiring a framework-compliant translation supplier with demonstrated community language coverage and a certified quality process, LingvoHouse provides a straightforward instruction route and a dedicated project manager for every engagement. Submit a requirement or request a quote at lingvohouse.com.

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Over 500 Languages

Whether you're looking to translate your content into one language or hundreds, rest assured we have experience translating over 500 world languages.

So, whatever language your customers speak, we can help.

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Our Language Technology

We use over 70 tools and technologies in our agency, so our experts can select the most useful tools for your project. This provides you with the best possible public sector translation service. Our public sector language experts will put together a plan to implement the right technical solutions for your translation project, saving you time and money. More about our technology

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Book a call with our public sector language expert.

Reviews

Public Sector Translation FAQ

Pricing

How is the pricing for linguistic support determined?

Our pricing is based on various factors such as type of content, complexity of the subject matter, DTP needs, language pairs, volume & scope, type of contract or job and urgency. In any case, we will offer best ratio of price-quality given the project needs. There are several pricing models available to customers, from standard price per word and up to subscription packages.

Are there any discounts?

Yes, we offer:

  • Volume discounts for large projects or ongoing projects
  • TM repetitions discounts
  • Contractual commitment discounts
  • Rebate discounts & other regular support discounts

The discount rate is calculated for each specific job /  contract.

Do you offer Legal Aid Rates?

Yes, provided this is requested upfront.

Quotes & Placing an Order

How do I place an order/receive a quote?

If your content is ready and the project is straightforward, you can get the price and place a request through our portal. For any other cases, please use the quote form or contact our Sales team at info@lingvohouse.com or +44 0203 086 9416. If you need ongoing, complex, or multi-scope support, please book an introductory call. The Sales team can speak to you in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, or Russian.

Can I request a specific language expert?

Yes, you can request specific language expert subject to their availability. Our team will do their best to accommodate your preferences.

What language combinations do you support?

Any.

Can I cancel my order?

If you need to cancel your order, you must send us a cancellation email. You will be charged pro-rata for the work already done by the time we receive your cancelation email.

I need my project to be completed urgently. How can I get it?

If your order is urgent, there may be urgency surcharges for performing the work in less than 24-48 hours. We will quote the price including any urgency charges. We will email you electronic version by the agreed deadline. Should you need a printed version of the content, we do not recommend postage by regular post, as nobody can guarantee delivery time. Instead we recommend that you collect the printed copy from our office between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm Mon-Fri (prior appointment required) or organise courier to deliver same-day.

Workflow & Quality Assurance

What is the typical workflow for your linguistic support?

We tailor the workflow for each customer. Our workflow may include (depending on the type of your project) initial consultation, project assessment, TM preparation & management, terminology research, language consulting, translation / localisation / transcreation, proofreading, styling, project management, quality assurance checks, and final delivery. For straightforward translation jobs, standard workflow includes pre-translation, translation, proofreading, TM management, QA & delivery. Various services levels are available to choose from, from Light MPTE to Fully-managed human only translation.

How do you ensure quality?

We are accredited to ISO 9001,17100 & 27001 & we are members of ITI. Each project is performed by a professional qualified linguist who is a native speaker & involves rigorous QA workflow. Customers can also select a required level of QA depending on content type & budget.

Do you have confidentiality policy?

LingvoHouse adheres to strict confidentiality policy from the moment you email us your inquiry. You can view full Confidentiality Policy here. Should you prefer to sign a separate NDA, LingvoHouse would be happy to do so.

Certifications

Do you provide certification?

LingvoHouse provides certifications according to the UK standard. Certification will come on our official letterhead, and will include our credentials, details of the expert, confirmation that it is accurate and our agency contact details. It will be dated and include the original signature of the expert or an authorised official of our company. Certification letter will also bear our official stamp.

Is your certification valid for my purposes?

Our standard certifications are designed to be accepted by UK official bodies including UKBA (Home Office), UK ENIC (former NARIC), embassies, courts and etc. However, some organisations, especially embassies of foreign countries, may require solicitor or notary certification as well. Please consult with specific embassy on requirements to certification before placing an order, so we know what type of certification is needed. LingvoHouse cannot be held responsible for non-acceptance or non-conformity of the chosen type of certification.

I don’t know what certification is required. What can I do?

If you don’t know and cannot find out what certification is required, we can affix standard certification. If you later find out that you require solicitor or notary, it can be done separately at any time. Cost on this type of certification will be provided additionally once we know what certification you need.

Technology, MT & AI

Do you use AI and/or MT for translations?

It depends on the type of jobs, content, budget & client preferences. Some projects are not suitable for AI-based services. Any translation that is powered by AI/MT still needs to be human-edited.

Do you use AI tools in your workflow?

Yes. Where possible, we use AI-based tools for workflow steps such as: research, planning productivity, TM creation & management, project-management & automation, account & billing management to make sure the job overheads are kept to the minimum.

What CAT tools do you use?

Depending on the project type we use either SDL Trados, XTM, Smartcat, MemoQ or other specific tools to pass on to the customer the benefit of TM recycling.

What localisation tools do you use?

We use over 70 different tools and choose which one has to be used case-by-case to ensure cost & time efficiency.

What TM Engines do you have access to?

All major licenced engines. We also offer raw MT packages.

What integrations are available? Can you integrate your solutions with our tools?

Absolutely. We can integrate our language solutions with various platforms and content management systems for seamless content exchange & workflow via API, WordPress or Drupal plugins, native connectors coming with our TMS and third-party platforms such as Zapier.

Capacity

Can you handle large and complex projects?

Yes, we have the capacity to manage large-scale and complex projects, ensuring timely delivery without compromising quality. We have a range of MT based solutions for high-volume short deadline jobs. We also can scale up on demand as we have access to over 4K of human linguists on all time zones and over 70 tools to choose from.

Do you offer professional linguistic support for rare languages?

We cover a wide range of languages, including less common ones. Please contact us with your specific requirements. We are here to help!

Delivery

What are your turnaround times for projects?

We work to the client’s deadline and adapt the turnaround based on customer’s preference, budget, project size and complexity. Where needed we are able to employ the AI & MT based tech to do the project prep & first draft, and mobilise several human translators at the time to cope with high volume deadline-driven jobs.

How will the final project be delivered?

Projects are securely delivered electronically or via a cloud storage. Physical copies can be provided upon request at extra cost.

Billing & Account Information

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept multiple payment methods, including bank transfers & all major cards, in most common currencies. We can also set up direct debits and payment plans for ongoing contracts.

How can I access my account and track my project's progress?

You can log into your account on our website to track your project’s status and access billing information.

When and how do I pay?

You will need to make payment upon placing your order. Unless otherwise stated, we will not proceed with the work until you have paid. Once you are happy with the quote, please inform us that you would like to proceed and we will send you payment link. You can then pay by card. After the payment is made, we will email you a confirmation email alongside with the VAT invoice for your records. Alternatively, please indicate your preferred method of payment once you place your order. We will then email you the invoice.

Can I pay upon receipt of my order?

LingvoHouse operates on a pre-payment basis unless otherwise agreed beforehand. If in special circumstances we are happy to proceed without pre-payment, we will notify you accordingly in writing.

Other Services

Do you offer video and media localisation?

Yes, we provide localisation services for media and videos, including subtitling and dubbing.

Can you help with keyword research?

Yes, available in over 500 languages on demand or as a part of the scope.

Can you help with country specific research?

Yes, we can provide comprehensive research support to your marketing or content teams, helping them uncover crucial market nuances that can impact global expansion decisions.

What other services can you offer?

We offer ensure range of language solutions

  1. Translation (including MT-based)
  2. Transcreation
  3. Localisation
  4. Language Consulting
  5. Research, project planning, content extraction
  6. TM creation & management
  7. Proofreading, QA & Styling
  8. Transcription, Captions, Subtitling
  9. Voiceover, Dubbing & Lip-syncing
  10. Text-to-voice
  11. Voice-to-text
  12. Interpreting, including BSL
  13. Official Certified Translations
  14. DTP, Design & Layout
  15. TM tools training services

Do you work with NGOs & Public Sector?

Yes, we are on several Public Sector Frameworks, including NHS SBS, NHS NOE CPC, NEPO and also provide services to most Local Authorities.

Want to try our translation services risk-free?

Here's how you can qualify to get your first 1000 words translated for free...

1. Get a quote for your translation now. We'll confirm if you qualify for the offer*

2. We translate the first 1000 words/ 5 pages  of your project

3. If you're happy with how we work we'll complete the rest of the translation, if not, we don't charge you a penny.

*Valid for new B2B customers only with projects over 15,000 words. Terms & conditions apply.