A FAST-GROWING company is looking to add to its stock of silverware in the Huddersfield Business Awards.

Translation services firm Applied Language Solutions has won a stack of prizes since it was founded by managing director Gavin Wheeldon in 2003 in the back bedroom of his house.

Mr Wheeldon, who lives at Meltham, has built up the business to employ 70 people in eight offices around the world providing translation services for clients including Nike, Yahoo and the United Nations.

The company recently opened an office in Chennai, India, to add to existing sites in the UK, the USA, France, Bulgaria, Guatemala,Hong Kong and Spain.

The company translates all kinds of documents – from simply letters to large technical manuals – as well as websites and printed catalogues for organisations in the medical, legal, financial and marketing sectors. It has a worldwide pool of translators working in more than 150 languages.

It also puts employees high on the agenda – and has won Investors in People accreditation for its commitment to staff training and welfare.

Measures to provide a better “work-life balance” include a fortnightly 20-minute massage during working hours and an annual “duvet day” when staff are allowed to stay at home in bed.

The company has also appointed Grace Chatten as “staff champion”

She said: “Our services are provided by the whole team, so we strongly value each member equally. We held focus groups and distributed a staff opinion survey offering everyone the opportunity to suggest new and useful benefits.”

The feedback from the focus groups resulted in a mid-week massage – while a no smoking policy was put in place prior to the national smoking ban. The monthly corporate newsletter was modified to include more staff-friendly content. There are also regular charity fundraising events.