I’ve been a freelance Spanish to English translator for almost 10years, mostly working on texts relating to healthcare and the environment.

After I studied languages at the University of Leeds, I moved out to Spain to find a job, any job. After a month or so of applying for anything vaguely suitable, I took my CV into a company that manufactured and fitted audio and video equipment for cars. The interview was short: “Do you speak English?” – “I am English.” – “You’re hired!” and I began work the next day. The job included a lot of quite technical translation in both directions, as well as telephone interpreting. With no training in the field I was really dropped in at the deep end, but it opened my eyes to a career that I hadn’t really considered before.

After a couple of years in Spain I moved back to the UK and took an MSc in Translation & Technology at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, setting up my freelance business on the side. After my MSc I also became a part-time lecturer at Heriot-Watt. I stayed in Edinburghuntil late 2014, when I relocated to London.

During my time in Edinburgh I organised a number of informal gatherings of translators and interpreters from the local area. We would meet 4 times a year, twice in the pub, once for a Christmas dinner, and once for a summer barbecue on the Meadows. Since I moved to London I haven’t had the chance to network with other translators, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of my translator friends from Edinburgh at the conference, as well as meeting some new ones and putting names to the faces of all the virtual colleagues I’ve met online over the years. There are a lot of familiar names on the delegates list which is great.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in April!