More UK businesses are looking to translate English to French as globalisation creates new market opportunities worldwide. Not only is the market growing, but it is getting more competitive. By enlisting English to French translators, organisations can communicate effectively with French speakers worldwide. Therefore, businesses that translate English to French gain a competitive advantage over those that don’t.

This article looks at why professional French translation is in high demand. However, French translation services are just one example! The translation industry as a whole is expanding, with agencies offering more language pairs to meet the demand for unique language combinations. These general industry trends are also covered in this article.

Translation Industry Data in the United Kingdom

As the second-largest language services market globally, the translation industry in the United Kingdom follows global trends—that is, it is growing rapidly. The UK’s language and translation services industry reached £35 billion in 2018, and the outlook remains strong.

According to the Association of Translation Companies (ATC) language industry report, 1,200 translation companies provide various language services to the UK’s private and public sectors. Their revenues contribute to £1.2 billion annually, and they employ over 12,000 translators. Therefore, not only is translation important for business, but it is vital to providing jobs to support the UK economy.

The report from ATC goes further, stating, “The added value language service companies generate for the UK’s economy through the growth of international trade far surpasses the numerical data.” As you’ll learn, improved trade opportunities are one of the primary reasons businesses want to translate English to French. It benefits the revenues for these businesses and drives the UK economy forward.

Unfortunately, the report also noted a decline in foreign language learning in the UK. Therefore, the demand for native speakers and professional translators has increased to serve the growing market. English to French translators are seeing a particular surge as more English businesses translate to serve French-speaking populations across the globe.

Globalisation Trends of UK Businesses

The ATC report included a recent Institute of Directors (IoD) survey Going Global Trends in Trade. IoD surveyed its members to determine the average number of markets served. The survey instructions were also clear that the entire European Union (EU) is one market. Proving the trend of globalisation, the report uncovered that:

• 10% of businesses surveyed served one market
• 44% of businesses surveyed served 2-5 markets
• 30% of businesses surveyed served 11+ markets

Providing information and content in the native languages of these international markets provides a competitive edge. French is considered a global language, so companies can serve many countries outside Europe when they translate English into French. LSPs in the UK are thus looking to employ English to French translators from many regions to cover the many French-speaking areas.

Translations are also becoming more crucial as savvy consumers often expect personalised service in today’s competitive marketplace. Therefore, translating your content into the most commonly translated languages in your key markets is a wise business investment.

Importance of Translating from English to French in the UK

There are many reasons to offer your product or services to French speakers. Firstly, French is spoken as a first language by about 136 million people worldwide, and a total of 250 million speak French as either a first or second language. When you translate English to French, you can effectively reach these people and dramatically expand your market size.

Moreover, French is spoken by people on nearly every continent. It is the official language of more than 22 countries, including France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Rwanda, and Madagascar. Therefore, businesses don’t only increase their market size when they translate English to French; they grow their market distribution. French is also one of the UN’s official languages!

As French is spoken in different regions, there are remarkable differences between written and spoken French in these countries. This is precisely why localisation services are essential to reach target audiences effectively. As with all translation projects, it is critical to only entrust your French translation services to professional English to French translators who can account for linguistic and cultural accuracy.

Translate your Content from English to French with Renaissance 

Renaissance Translations has extensive translation expertise and can translate English to French or any other language pair. We offer a comprehensive suite of services, including proofreading, transcreation, transcription, and video subtitling. Let’s discuss your French language project goals! Get in touch with our English to French translators today, or get a quote online.