TfL chooses AA Global for transport translation expertise

Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AA Global.

AA Global Language Services has added to its list of major contract wins by landing the job of keeping millions of Londoners and visitors connected with vital information about the capital’s transport system.

The company, a Chamber member which now has its head office in Hull after expanding to the city in 2011, will begin work in September on the three-year contract with Transport for London (TfL).

Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AA Global, said there is the possibility of some job creation but much of the work can be absorbed by the expansion which has taken place over the last two years as part of a strategy of gearing for growth.

Kirk said: “We will have people in London working on the contract but the bulk of the work will be done from our head office in Hull.

“Our workload has increased significantly during the last few years with the result that we have employed more people, with a total of about 30. We have also invested in technology to support our growth and these contract wins are the result of that.”

AA Global will provide written translation and transcription services for documents, signage, maps, posters, handouts, leaflets and more.

The company’s work will extend across all areas of TfL’s activities and operations including bus and tube, overground rail and trams, Docklands Light Railway and even the Emirates Air Line cable car.

It will also embrace the Santander Cycles bike hire scheme, London River Services, Victoria Coach Station, the London Transport Museum and the 580km network of main roads with 6,000 traffic lights.

Kirk said: “The contract also covers taxis and the congestion charge. It’s a big responsibility for a service which is used by millions of people every day and to win it we had to demonstrate we can meet the highest standards, working across a wide range of languages and providing sensory impairment services including Braille.”

During 2021 AA Global Language Services overcame tough competition to be appointed to facilitate vital communications between the thousands of delegates who attended the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

The company also landed the repeat business of providing translation and interpreting services for the test and trace project, helping the NHS reach international communities throughout the UK.

In addition AA Global secured a two-year contract to provide face-to-face services, phone, video and translation for the Equality and Human Rights Commission working in England, Scotland and Wales.

Kirk said: “The contract with TfL further cements our position as a top-tier provider of translation and interpreting services in the UK. We have built our reputation gradually over the last 30 years and have really made a breakthrough during the last 12 months by showing we can be trusted to deliver services of national and even international importance.”