UK businesses are exporting more than ever. In 2024, the value of UK exports of goods and services reached £892 billion, and the government has maintained its target of £1 trillion in exports by 2030. Yet only around one in ten UK SMEs currently export, according to the Department for Business and Trade’s 2023 SME Export Tracker. For small and medium-sized enterprises and women-led businesses in particular, international markets remain a major untapped growth opportunity. Language, however, is one of the most underestimated barriers to success abroad.
Whatever your sector or company size, entering a new market without professional translation is risky. Customers and partners expect clear, culturally appropriate communication. Short of building an experienced in-house team in every territory, working with qualified translators is the most reliable way to make sure nothing important is lost.
Translation quality is not guaranteed by default
The UK translation market is large and varied, but it is not formally regulated. Anyone can advertise translation services, so quality can differ significantly. That makes it important to check credentials rather than simply choosing the cheapest option.
Look for providers that work to recognised quality standards. In the UK, the British Standards Institution publishes ISO 9001:2015, a general quality-management standard, and ISO 17100:2015, which is specific to translation services and covers translator qualifications, review processes and project management. Membership of professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Linguists or the Institute of Translation and Interpreting is also a good sign. These organisations require members to meet competence and continuing-professional-development standards.
A reputable agency or freelance translator should be able to show examples of previous work, relevant sector experience and references. Taking time to verify this reduces the risk of errors that could damage your reputation or create legal problems. For women founders managing tight budgets, this due diligence helps avoid the expense of having to redo poor work later.
Customers prefer to buy in their own language
English is widely used in international business, but it is not enough on its own. CSA Research (2020) found that 76% of online shoppers prefer to buy products with information in their own language, and 40% will not buy from websites in other languages. In business-to-business markets, buyers are also more likely to trust suppliers that communicate clearly in the local language.
This matters for e-commerce, marketing, product instructions, terms and conditions and after-sales support. If your website, packaging or contracts are only available in English, you may be excluding a large share of potential customers before they even consider your offer.
For women-led businesses, which the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship shows are still less likely to export than male-led firms, investing in professional translation can be a practical way to compete on equal terms. The Rose Review Progress Report 2024 estimates there are now more than 1.6 million women-led businesses in the UK, and that closing the gender entrepreneurship gap could add up to £250 billion to the economy. Removing language barriers is one step towards realising that potential.
Machine translation is not a shortcut to credibility
Free online translation tools and AI services have improved, but they are still not reliable enough for business-critical content. They struggle with idioms, tone, industry terminology and cultural context. A poorly translated slogan, contract clause or safety warning can be embarrassing at best and costly at worst.
For UK businesses selling into the EU or other regulated markets, inaccurate translations can breach local consumer-protection, product-safety or data-protection rules. Human translation or professionally reviewed machine translation with post-editing is a safer investment than relying on free tools alone. For women entrepreneurs building a reputation in a new territory, the cost of fixing a public mistake is usually far higher than the cost of getting it right first time.
Search engines can also detect low-quality automatically translated content and may rank it poorly. If you want international customers to find and trust your website, invest in content that reads as if it were written for that market.
Good translation goes beyond converting words. It carries your ideas, values and brand story into another culture. That process, sometimes called transcreation, is especially important in marketing and creative sectors where emotional connection influences buying decisions.
How to build professional translation into your export plan
Treat professional translation as part of your market-entry strategy, not an afterthought. The Department for Business and Trade’s UK Export Academy offers free training on market research and localisation, which can help you decide where translation will have the greatest impact.
Start by identifying the content that matters most in each target market: your website, key product pages, legal documents, customer service scripts and social media. Then choose translators or agencies with experience in your sector and region. A native-speaking translator based in the target market will usually have the best sense of current language use and cultural expectations. Brief them clearly on your brand voice, target audience and any technical terms.
Finally, build in a review process. Even the best translators benefit from a second pair of eyes, especially for high-stakes documents. If budget is tight, prioritise the pages and materials that directly affect sales and compliance, then expand your multilingual content over time. Many women-led businesses start with one or two priority markets and scale up as export revenue grows, which keeps the investment manageable.
Action steps to build into your export plan
- Audit your current content and identify which markets need local-language versions first.
- Check translator credentials against ISO 17100:2015, CIOL or ITI membership.
- Brief your translator on brand voice, audience and sector terminology.
- Build a review stage into every translation project.
- Track website traffic and conversion rates by language to measure return on investment.
For UK businesses aiming to grow internationally, professional translation is not an optional extra; it is a competitive necessity. By choosing qualified translators, respecting local language preferences and avoiding over-reliance on machine tools, you can build stronger relationships with customers and partners overseas. For women entrepreneurs in particular, that investment can open doors to markets that might otherwise stay closed.