Despite knowing the importance of good posture and healthy habits, many of us could admit to spending countless working hours hunched over our desks with minimal breaks. We know we have some improvements to make to our work environment and habits, but sometimes we do need a little reminder! Earlier this month, the new ITI Network Coordinator Ellena Fox, also an experienced physiotherapist, led us in a session discussing the holistic effect of working posture and habits upon our general health and wellbeing.

Here are some key takeaways:

• A reminder on ergonomics – our working habits, conditions and environment. By giving these the attention they deserve, we can boost our effectiveness and minimise injuries and fatigue.
• Posture and the importance of alignment – Ellena gave us some top tips to evaluate and improve the way we sit and to help us to tweak our work stations.
• Breaks – how consciously are we building these in? Are we seeing these as key to protecting our productivity?
• Activity and movement – we really need to weave these into our day in bite sized chunks and with a focus on activities that we enjoy.
• Careful not to neglect strength, and particularly core strength, to support good posture and alignment.
• Resources – Ellena shared some super practical resources, including checklists for self-assessment in areas such as posture, screen display safety etc.

Healthy bodies and minds are essential for us to do our day-to-day work while staying fit and well.

ITI East Anglia members can watch this and other sessions back. You can find the recorded sessions in our webinar library. Watch this space for more upcoming events from the ITI East Anglia Network, including more on wellbeing for language professionals.

Contribution from Catherine Fox, who has also recently joined our committee as Co-Network Coordinator

Services offered: Translation, editing, proofreading, transcreation, localisation, subtitling, DTP, linguistic checks and QA

Languages: English and Spanish into Italian

Specialisms: IT and tech, motorcycling, commercial websites

Location: Cambridge, UK, and Rome, Italy

Website: LocalisationTeam.com (under refurbishment, will be published it soon)

Contact details: donatella@localisationteam.com

Could you tell us a bit about your professional background?

After 3 years of freelancing in Italy, I moved to Cambridge in 1999 to work in-house for a localisation company and acquire a deeper knowledge of all the aspects of localisation (which is the translation and adaptation of software, websites, apps, games…).

I later co-founded Localisation Team: we are two experienced professionals offering English and Spanish into Italian language services helping our clients reach their Italian audiences more effectively.

What services do you provide and in what areas?

I offer translation, editing and proofreading. Localisation was added soon after, and then transcreation (i.e. the translation of creative marketing texts) and copyediting: a task that flexes your brain muscles, which is a breath of “fresh air” for my brain. Subtitling is a passion and requires both creativity and a highly regulated process. And linguistic QA always guarantees a high-quality output.

Being curious and intellectually driven towards new areas, over the years we have explored and gained experience in IT, telecoms, media, motorcycles, fintech, life science and medical equipment, fashion and textiles, watchmaking and jewellery, tourism, food and beverage. It’s a lot, and we can give you more details of our experience in each sector! The upside is that we never get bored.

What makes you stand out?

Between the two of us we can offer you multiple services, for example translation and review by a second linguist to guarantee high-quality texts.

We are based in the UK and Italy, and we have first-hand knowledge of local trends and the evolution of language and style in both countries, so we don’t just “get” your message, but we also create an Italian equivalent that it is appropriate and engaging for your target audience.

Our attention to detail, nuance and context will benefit the Italian copy (and even your English original), while a smooth, professional service will solve your translation headaches.

I am ISO 17100:2015 Certified, a Full Member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, and a CIoL Chartered Translator (all these qualifications are granted after thorough vetting and examination processes), so you can rest assured that our services will be provided with confidentiality, expertise and high standards, always on time and on budget.

We have a collection of clients’ testimonials to prove it. And case studies for you to browse.

What do you like most about your job?

We like the constant learning about what’s new, exploring new fields and facts through research, the variety of texts to translate, exploring the world and interests of different clients, the intellectual challenge of achieving what is ideal for the clients we work with. And we don’t stop until you are happy.

What do you do when you’re not working?

I try to keep active as much as possible: walking, cycling and swimming. Travelling to Italy and other countries is also high on the list. And you can find me at the pool volunteering for City of Cambridge Swimming Club or on the river cheering for the rower in the family.

What’s your favourite part of East Anglia? I have fond memories of Woodbridge, and I always hope to have some time to explore more of East Anglia!

The ITI East Anglia Network we rounded the year 2025 off in the best possible way: by getting together in Ely for our Christmas Crafts and Potluck celebration! As always, there was plenty of laughter, interesting conversations and a lovely chance to reconnect before the festive break.

This year we mixed creativity with good food. Alongside crafting sessions which included making beautiful origami stars and a hands-on introduction to weaving with mini belt looms, we enjoyed a truly international feast. The table was full of British, German, Turkish, Swedish, Italian and Hungarian dishes, with lots of vegan options too, plus a memorable bit of culinary fusion in the shape of Bombay potato focaccia. Naturally, no translators’ get-together would be complete without a linguistic detour, and we even found ourselves puzzling over a bit of Plattdeutsch along the way!

The afternoon was a perfect reflection of what we do as translators every day: building connections, sharing skills and bringing different worlds together – in this case, language, craft and community.

On a mild November day, after refuelling with delicious food, drinks and catch-up chats, the ITI East Anglia Network contingent arrived at the University of Essex to meet a group of students for the now bi-annual Meet the Professionals event.

Starting with a brief introduction of the ITI, the East Anglia Network and our individual professional experience, we then spoke to the various groups, answering all their questions.

The students were a mix of both postgraduates and undergraduates, studying languages, translation and interpreting, and linguistics. Their interests ranged from the best career moves and lifestyle choices for the future to very practical advice on day-to-day translation and interpreting practice.

We were asked if a Master’s degree in T&I is really needed to find work and what qualifications are best to have; if working in-house or freelancing is better at the beginning of your career; how working in-house first could help to establish yourself later as a freelancer; what it is like being self-employed with children, and how a career in translation could fit in with the digital nomad lifestyle.

On a more practical note, we answered questions about different ways of charging for the services provided (per word/hour/minute, or on a project basis), how the minimum fee rate is advisable but not always accepted, how to choose our specialisms (and how sometimes they choose us or we stumble upon them in any given moment), how to consider the professionals from other industries that are in our lives as consultants, or even proofreaders if they know our languages and have worked abroad in their field, and how hobbies and our knowledge can pave the way to a new specialism.

Finally, the inevitable AI/MT question popped up and curiosity about if/how to use AI for ancillary tasks, how to manage, leverage and control the online information available. We also touched on how to manage the widespread misconception that AI is good enough without a proper language professional’s intervention, and the pressure our industry is facing, focusing on the perceived positions of clients, agencies and LSPs, and translators and interpreters.

Underlying the importance of always providing the best quality, using the best resources, thoroughly researching the subject of every job at hand, and always honing your research skills for every university assignment now and for every job in the near future, we hope to have equipped the students with useful tools to start their career with the best foot forward.

Thanks to our member Donatella Fornari for her blog post about this amazing event and also a big thank you to Natalia Rodríguez Vicente from the University of Essex and our Outreach Coordinator Frances Clarke for their organisation!

On 15th October, the ITI East Anglia Network met in Norwich for our AGM. We met in the private dining room of the incredible YALM food hall in Norwich’s Royal Arcade, which meant that we also got to enjoy lunch together once the formal proceedings were over.

The first ITI East Anglia event I attended was last year’s AGM in Ely. Back then, I was just a new member but I left last year’s meeting so impressed by our local ITI community that I decided to volunteer on the committee when the chance to become website coordinator came up earlier this year. So, this year’s event was the first time I had a glimpse into all the behind-the-scenes organisation that goes into an AGM.

We are incredibly lucky to have a strong committee in East Anglia—made up of an events coordinator, outreach coordinator, social media and website coordinators and two co-chairs who also act as treasurer and secretary—so the workload of preparing the various reports was quite evenly spread. However, extra props must go to our events coordinator Katy Bryce for organising such a great venue and event!

Our reports showed that, while the turbulence within our industry is inevitably affecting some parts of our network, we are working hard to combat this with plenty of outreach work and events with the two universities within our region as well as a big push on our LinkedIn page and website. Our network is also very active and regularly hosts guest speakers on a wide range of topics relevant to our work. The hope is that we can line up some great talks for the year ahead. Attendees had the chance to suggest ideas for upcoming chat topics and event speakers. There was also talk of a potential wellness workshop in the new year, including tips on how to breathe!

Once we had wrapped up all the matters on the agenda, talk turned to the now-traditional topics of AI, how we use it or try to avoid it, and whether the bubble is going to burst or not. One of the many benefits of being part of an ITI network is remembering that you are not alone in the struggles of being a translator in this climate. Chatting to others in the same boat helps to relieve some of the pressure we may feel and is a great way of boasting morale if you’re in a bit of a slump.

Autumn often feels like a time to refresh with the start of the new school year, and so too, our AGM was a lovely opportunity to reflect on the success of the past year and look forward to exciting things ahead. And who can resist a chance to get out of the house, chat with other like-minded translators and enjoy some delicious food as well? If you are interested in joining us for one of our upcoming events, please get in touch via our Join Us page!

Post written by Beth Skinner

Whoever came up with this month’s topic, “Self-defence for translators”, deserves credit for choosing a subject that was bound to stimulate wide-ranging discussion on several fronts. The best topics are always those on which everyone present is likely to have an opinion, and we had lots of opinions to share, as well as some useful knowledge to pass on.

Translators are confronted by plenty of challenges – and probably always have been. Our discussions ranged from how to protect ourselves against the imposition of unreasonable deadlines, whether professional insurance is really needed by all translators, and how to spot (and thus avoid) scams, to questions about contract terms and conditions. To paraphrase Dr Johnson’s phrase (and why not?) that “when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather”, it’s probably true to say that when two translators meet it’s not long before the question of rates comes up, so we had a side-chat about that too – there’s certainly a discussion to be had about rates in the context of “self-defence”, if you think about it.

Here’s a summary of the discussions:

Deadlines: shorter deadlines are perhaps part of a trend, encouraged by AI, which leads people to think that everything can be done at breakneck speed. It’s important not to be afraid to push back occasionally, especially if, for example, a deadline of Friday evening is imposed – is it really likely that the client will be looking at your work over the weekend, or might they be ok with you asking for an extension to Monday morning?

Terms and conditions: don’t forget the “Model Terms of Business” document on the ITI website. Remember that some clients will have a standard set of pre-agreed Ts & Cs from which they are not allowed to deviate.

Scams: there are various tools that you can use to check if a particular domain name is registered or not, such as WhoIs (whois.domaintools.com). Also: if something arrives and it’s not addressed to you by name, it pays to be suspicious. And if something simply “feels” a bit fishy, it quite possibly is – trust your instincts! Unfortunately, some fake companies may prey upon translators’ desire/need for work. We were also reminded of Atlas Translations’ fairly recent identity fraud experience – see https://www.atlas-translations.co.uk/blog/beware-of-wordscup-identity-fraud/ – and there may well be others too.

Insurance: not everyone has it, and it may well depend on the types of text you translate as to whether you need it. Some clients will specify the level and type of insurance cover needed. Various insurers were mentioned, such as Towergate, Trafalgar (recommended by CIOL) and Hiscox. Translators may need insurance cover against, for example, cyberattack or loss of earnings, as well as the more obvious professional indemnity cover.

Rates: various resources were mentioned, such as:

https://www.iti.org.uk/resource/value-iti-membership-freelance-translator-rates

and: https://www.iti.org.uk/resource/experience-matters-up-to-a-point.html?_ws=cGl4bDhjcm1NZmFFbmFibGVDb25maXJtYXRpb24%3D

There’s a continuing problem over transparency among translators on these questions.

No “Monthly Chat”in October, as the Branch AGM is on 15 October in Norwich. The next Monthly Chat, in November, will look at “The future of our profession”.

Blog post written by our ITI East Anglia Network member John Wagstaff

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Enjoying the summer? Our July monthly online chat was an insightful discussion about taking time off.

Some members said how, early in their careers, they were more hesitant to take time off for fear of losing clients – especially when working with some larger agencies who just assign the work to someone else in their absence. However, many found that trying to work while on holiday only led to stress and made it difficult to properly unwind.

If work can’t be avoided, different time zones can sometimes work in our favour – such as allowing for work in the evenings while enjoying daytime activities. Some also find that checking messages near the end of a holiday helps ease the return to work.

One member shared their experience of combining work and leisure by taking a few “workcations” working while abroad, often while visiting family. This can be especially helpful when balancing work with childcare. It was also mentioned, however, that attending translation conferences and industry events can feel like a little working holiday, offering the perfect opportunity for CPD, networking, and perhaps even combining it with a family break in some of the lovely locations.

This led to a side discussion around cybersecurity and the importance of not using public Wi-Fi when working with confidential client data. Members highlighted the need for secure email platforms, VPNs and other safeguards, and the conversation naturally progressed to the need for Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Everyone agreed on the importance of taking time to rest and recharge – and that most clients do understand this. Some members said they recommend a trusted colleague to their clients to cover for them, and that smaller agencies are often happy to plan ahead, if given enough notice.

Self-employment definitely requires flexibility, but it is a careful balance.

Ultimately, we all felt that clear, proactive communication is key when planning time off. It not only helps maintain strong client relationships but also supports our wellbeing and professionalism.

On the subject of taking a break, we will be taking a break from the online chats in August here at the ITI East Anglia Network, but we’ll be back chatting online again in September – next topic is ’Self-Defence for Translators’.

“2^nd July? We’re bound to have some nice weather!” we naively thought, back when we were planning our summer social, a walk and picnic from Manningtree train station to Flatford Mill. And it was nice weather – for the ducks, at least. For the humans, it was probably slightly more on the damp side than ideal, but still we set out, undeterred!

The walk from Manningtree train station to Flatford Mill takes you through some of the most beautiful countryside in the East Anglia region, if not the whole of the UK – not for nothing is the area called “Constable Country”. And indeed, Flatford Mill is closely associated with the work of John Constable, whose father inherited the mill in 1764. It is now owned by the National Trust, and on more summery summer days, is a very popular spot. Along with the mill itself, there’s all the amenities you expect from a National Trust property, including a café and second-hand bookshop, along with a few more unusual features, like the historic cottage and boats for hire so you can paddle up and down the River Stour a little.

Unfortunately, hiring a boat would probably have been pushing it a little given the weather – intrepid we may be, but not foolhardy. It probably would have been a bit of a squeeze to get all seven of us in the boat anyway. Instead, we sat under some very dense trees and ate our picnic, with hot tea from the café. We talked about all the things translators and interpreters talk about when we get together – the state of the industry, technological developments, the challenges of starting out in the current climate. We also discussed other important issues, like which shape of crisp provided the best combination of flavour and texture, and we also all tried some limelon provided by one of the attendees. It’s too complicated an issue to get into the details of here, but let us say, opinions are divided.

All in all, it was a lovely and refreshing day out, in spite of the weather. And it could have been worse, as Constable’s Rainstorm over the Sea (ca. 1824-1828) reminds us…

Write-up by our member David Stockings MITI MCIL MA (he/him) Translator, German and French to English

The ITI East Anglia Network’s most recent online monthly chat (on 21 May) was a brainstorming on how our work as language professionals is changing, how the group members got to where they are and how they are adapting to the industry’s new normal. This was a follow-up to our last session “How (not) to make £100k as a freelance translator: a fresh take on advice for newbies” by Sarah Bowtell.

We discussed how we are positioning ourselves in terms of rates, both in resisting downwards market pressures and trying (sometimes successfully) to put our rates up occasionally to reflect rising costs. We also talked about the importance of investing our time in marketing in the broadest sense, by identifying our USP, as well as using all avenues available to us, including wider industry networking events. Face-to-face meetings allow us to meet people from our communities and business sectors and can bring all kinds of opportunities. When we think about networking, we most often think of selling, but actually it can be more effective to ask for help from contacts with questions like “do you know somebody who needs x?”

We agreed that it is now more important than ever to be ready with our response to the AI question. We should be prepared to counter the sceptics and clearly communicate why our work as translators and interpreters is still needed and what AI can’t do for our clients.

We also talked about how we need to feed back to clients on the workflow, and how this is even more relevant as processes change with MT and AI. When something does not work as we are expecting, or when it takes longer, we need to tell clients in a clear and timely way. If a job was meant to take three hours and took ten, we shouldn’t quietly absorb the costs for that. We recognised that this becomes easier with experience, when we are more confident in how long something should take.

We are looking forward to the next monthly chat on “Managing expenses and keeping costs down” on 25 June.

Blog post written by our ITI East Anglia Network member Catherine Fox

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