SNAP SHOT: HE German Technical Translations

 
 
Name: Herbert Eppel
 
Location: Leicester
 
Company name: HE German Technical Translations
 
Your age: 49
 
Most useful item: Translation management software, electronic dictionaries
 
Home worker tip: Join professional virtual networks such as LinkedIn, but don’t get bogged down with social networking
 
Web: http://www.HETranslation.co.uk/
 
 
 
“I was working as a senior lecturer and research fellow in the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development at De Montfort University, where I helped to set up a new MSc course in the mid 1990s, among a wide range of other activities. The work was very rewarding, but I wanted to explore new opportunities based on my solid technical and academic background and bilingual language skills.
 
So I reduced my working hours at the university to half-time and launched HE German Translations around 15 years ago. I deal with a wide range of subject areas, especially engineering, technology and science, with particular focus on renewable energy, environment and sustainable development.
 
I have some 100 customers from around the world and use a team of subcontractors in several countries to meet any peaks in demand and to cover subjects outside my own area of expertise. Enquiries come via my website, relevant directory entries and through participation in numerous online forums.
 
Working from home without having to go through a daily commuting routine suits me very well and helps to reduce my carbon footprint, something I’m very keen on as an active member of Friends of the Earth and other environmental organisations.
 
A few months ago I attended a seminar on the subject of "observational marketing hints", organised by the local Business Link. The speaker, Geoff Ramm, was excellent, highly entertaining and quite inspiring. He gave 11 specific tips; the first one was "2009 - Your Year of Creativity and Opportunity". So far his advice has worked very well for me.
 
One of the things I want to follow up this year is further expansion through fusion marketing, i.e. collaboration with colleagues who deal with other languages.”