Three NI companies receive awards at Trade Partners UK ceremony

FG Wilson (Engineering) in County Antrim, Belfast Company Paul K Nolan & Co and Docksafe in Bangor have all received awards in the Northern Ireland regional finals of the Trade Partners UK National Language for Export Awards 2001.

FG Wilson, one of the largest diesel generating set manufacturers in Europe, received the AMD Brass Tacks award.

With over 95 per cent of their products exported to countries outside the UK, the company realised that they had to have a language and cultural strategy if they were going to be able to export their products successfully.

Elements included in the company’s language and cultural strategy consist of marketing communications and sales material, training and cultural awareness. FG Wilson currently translates their literature into 14 key languages, with several other minor languages used when necessary throughout the world.

Belfast company Paul K Nolan & Co have won an award for their Spanish Legal Services.

The company have been honing their Spanish language skills while representing private and commercial clients in the UK. Having built a strong client base and good reputation with their Northern Ireland clients who export in Spin, Paul K Nolan & Co are aiming to develop a success client base among Spanish and Latin American companies that wish to trade with Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Docksafe of Bangor have won the medium sized company award in the Northern Ireland regional finals of the Trade Partners UK National Languages for Export Awards 2001 as a result of their commitment to languages in business.

The company manufactures ‘Docksafe’, a fendering system that when attached to the dock edge provides cushioning to boats during docking.

The award recognises medium sized companies that have in place a strong network of culturally and linguistically aware employees working on accounts abroad. Docksafe now exports their dock fendering system to destinations in the UK, Norway, Holland, Spain, Italy and the USA.

Trade Partners UK’s National Languages for Export Campaign is promoting importance of language and cultural awareness to exporters. One of the key campaign initiatives is the National Languages for Export Awards, which celebrates achievement and best practice in marrying languages and culture to trade performance. The awards are offered to companies, language trainers, schools and universities and are handed over at an official high profile ceremony co-sponsored by blue-chip companies and national organisations. (CD)