Translator turns to IT and food

THE Saddleworth-based founder and former chief executive of translation and interpretation business Applied Language Solutions is heading off in new directions.

Gavin Wheeldon (30) has invested in a local IT business and taken 50 per cent stake in a company offering exotic cookery classes.

Wheeldon set up Applied Language Services in his back bedroom in 2003 and grew into a company with an annual turnover of £7.2 million, employing 135 staff across offices in the UK, US, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, India, France, Germany, Spain, Guatemala and Australia.

Last December the business was bought by professional services firm Capita for £7.5 million, with a further contingent consideration of up to £60 million, based on performance over the next four years.

Mr Wheeldon said: Having been my own boss for so long it turned out I don’t make a great employee. Capita wanted to take the Applied Language Solutions business in directions I didn’t agree with and in the end we agreed to go our separate ways. It was an amicable parting.”

He denied the problems which initially plagued the Delph-based translation and interpretation business around a multi-million contract with the Department of Justice had any bearing on his decision to leave.

“Initially there were problems, and I am not denying that, but for six weeks up to my departure we were hitting 99.4 per cent of targets with the police and 97 per cent of target with the courts and both organisations were very happy with the service.”


Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle