About Atlas Translations

Cambridge to London to St Albans... and beyond! This is a story about us. The story of how Atlas Translations started, kept going and blossomed. We’re a translation agency offering fast, certified translations, with qualified linguists, great customer service and ISO certification.
This sort of thing doesn’t happen overnight though, and is the result our ongoing passion for what we do, our attention to detail and our total commitment to customer satisfaction.

Cambridge, UK circa 1991. That’s when it all began. We started as a small translation agency in a tiny room above a bank. It’s hard to believe this about Atlas Translations, but back then, we were delivering leaflets door to door by bicycle to advertise our translation agency services.

In 1995, we opened a new, swanky office in London’s Covent Garden. This became our HQ until we moved out of ‘The Big Smoke’ to the more serene environments of St Albans and Exeter.

Along the way, we proved that our fast, efficient, and friendly services were up to exemplary standards with ISO certifications. Today, we continue to be proud holders of the ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 17100:2017 (Translation Services) certifications.

Read more about our ISO certifications and standards here.

As we grew, we received requests for much more than translation. So, we evolved! From a company that simply offered interpretation and translation, we are now a company that provides a full mix of language, translation, localisation, and transcreation services.

Fast forward to 2020 (😑). As we already offered remote working to all staff one day a week, we had no problem swiftly establishing a work-from-home arrangement to continue our work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And now, here we are in 2024! We’re busier than ever, serving our many fabulous local and international clients of all sizes, backgrounds, and industries with tip-top translations, excellent customer service, and an overall level of attention that’s equal parts human and caring.

Contact Us

Got questions? Just want a quick chat? We’d love to hear from you.

Call us on 01727 812 725 or email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk to let us know what you need. We respond quickly to all questions and queries!

If you’d like to meet us face to face, learn more about our translation and language services, or deliver documents, please email or call us to arrange a meeting.

Use the Live Chat option during UK working hours to ask us any questions. You’ll chat with a real, live human—no bots here! Just click the little icon at the bottom right of your screen to start chatting with us.

If you’re ready to jump right in and would like a quick quote, we have a handy Get a quote button located at the top of our website where you can get an estimate for your needs.

Global Voice, Local Touch

If you’re looking for some top tips for partnering with Atlas Translations, we have some top tips to share!

We answer 25 of our clients’ most frequently asked questions, ranging from typesetting queries to discussing reference materials.

Click to download Global Voice, Local Touch

What Do We Do?

  • Expand your reach with our expert localisation and transcreation services, tailored for new local or overseas markets.
  • Benefit from our specialist sector and industry expertise, ensuring precision and accuracy in every project.
  • Communicate seamlessly in over 340 languages, breaking down barriers and building connections.
  • Stay understood anywhere, anytime, with our 24-hour telephone interpreting services.
  • Enhance your multimedia content with professional subtitling, voice-overs, and production services.
  • Make a lasting impression with our top-notch layout and typesetting for all your marketing materials.
  • Get personal translations for your certificates, CVs, diplomas, and legal documents, handled with care and confidentiality.

A timeline of our history

1991

Atlas Translations was born in Cambridge.

1993

We registered with The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), formerly The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP).

1994

We became members of The Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) and The Association of Translation Companies (ATC).

1990s / early 2000s

New offices opened in Bath and Cumbria.

1995

New offices opened in Covent Garden.

2003

We became ISO 9001 certified.

2006

We became ISO 17100 certified.

2012

The London office moved to St Albans.

2016

We set up the Polar Bear Plunge and Coppafeel Bra Bank in our St Albans office.

2018

We started St Albans Postboxes.

2019

We implemented a 4-day working week for staff.

2020

New office opened in Devon.

2021

In our 30th year, we started the Exmouth Postboxes, opened the Bath office and won two awards with the Association of Translation Companies and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting.

2024

Our UK team grew to 7 and we now have additional offices in Manchester and Edinburgh.

Meet the People behind Atlas Translations

It’s the people who make Atlas the exceptional company it is today, so they deserve to have a section on the Atlas website.
Email or call them with any questions or to make an appointment to meet them in person - but please, no autographs 😎

For your peace of mind:

  • BS EN ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management (held since 2003).
  • BS EN ISO 17100:2017 certification for Translation Services (held since 2008).
  • Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) since 1994.
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) since 1993.
  • Member of the Association of Translation Companies (ATC).
  • Member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL).

Atlas Translations is here to support all your language, translation, localisation, and communication needs—no matter who you are, where you are, or what those needs may be.

Call or email to let us know what you need and we can help. We respond quickly to all enquiries.

Use the little chat icon to the right on your screen for a Live Chat (it really is one of us!) or to request a callback in less than 60 seconds.

Our Quality Standards

What an excellent and prompt service! Thank you very much for the extremely fast turnaround and efficient service.

Scottish Prison Service

The translator did an impeccable job. The translation notes were not only helpful but showed a tremendous dedication to the task and outstanding professionalism all around. A very special thank you to Atlas.

Sistemas Congnitivos (SISCOG)

I was particularly impressed with the speed in which you turned the work around, and the quality of the work was excellent. Many thanks. It was a pleasure working with you.

Snell & Wilcox

Atlas have been translating (policy documents) for us into several languages since 2004. They are friendly and efficient and have always provided accurate and cost-effective translations well within the agreed deadlines.

Oxford Policy Management

Atlas provided another high-quality French translation of one of our policy briefs. They respond quickly to our needs and delivered a document that we were confident to send straight to printing and distribution. We’re happy to include Atlas as one of our trusted partners.

Future Agricultures Consortium

ATC – Full membership of the ATC (Association of Translation Companies).

CIEP – Corporate membership of the CIEP (Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading) since 1993.

ISO 17100 – ISO 17100:2017 for Translation Services (since this standard began, in 2008, externally audited annually).

ISO 9001 – BS EN ISO 9001:2015 (certified since 2003, externally audited annually).

Living wage employer – As a living wage employer, we believe our staff deserve a wage which meets every day needs.

Mindful employer

Mindful employer – We are a mindful employer, working toward achieving better mental health at work.

Logo

Disability confident committed – We are Disability Confident Committed, ensuring our recruitment, communications and support are inclusive and accessible.

4-day week

4-day week employer since 2019

GBC_Accredited_Logo

Good Business Charter Member since 2022

The Slator Language Service Provider Index (LSPI) is a ranking and an index of the world’s largest translation, localization, interpreting, and language technology companies.

PIF

The Patient Information Forum promotes access to trusted and high-quality health information for the public and healthcare professionals.

Federation of Small Businesses and the Self-Employed

Member of the Federation of Small Businesses and the Self-Employed

Prompt Payment Code

Signatory of the Prompt Payment Code since 2023.

Accredited with the Fair Tax Foundation since February 2024

https://fairtaxmark.net/

Registered with the ICO since 2004.

Go to https://ico.org.uk/ for more information.

Corporate membership of the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) since 1994. Corporate Member of the Year 2021.