Translation firm racks up £15m loss

CONTROVERSIAL Delph-based Capita Translating and Interpreting suffered a £15 million loss last year.

The company - formerly Applied Language Solutions - reported the loss after struggling to deliver on a language services contract for the Ministry of Justice, which provides translation and interpreting services to English courts. The company insists investment in the serevice has brought about improvements.

The firm — based in Huddersfield Road — won a five-year contract to provide translation and interpretation services for police and courts, but has been dogged by controversy and accusations of blunders. One led to the collapse of a burglary trial, another to an unqualified man standing in for his wife at a murder trial when the firm’s translator failed to turn up, and other issues.

ALS’s founder and chief executive Gavin Wheeldon sold his business to Capita in 2011 in a deal worth £7.5 million. He remained a director until his resignation in July last year.