November 2009: New SDL Trados training dates coincide with launch of SDL Trados Studio certification program
Alexika has announced the latest dates for SDL Training courses for translators and translation project managers through to April 2010. The announcement coincides with SDL’s relaunch of the SDL Trados Studio certification program – a set of exams which graduates from the training courses take online. We thoroughly recommend the scheme as a means for linguists to prove their professionalism to their clients.

September 2009: Alexika speaking at ATC Conference
Alexika Director Mark Robinson attended the conference of the Association of Translation Companies, and was guest speaker at the seminar about the SDL Partner Programme. The conference found the industry in positive mood – demand for languages services around the world is said to be growing at 4.5% per annum despite the financial crisis.

September 2009: European Day of Languages
26th of September was the European Day of Languages and Alexika celebrated with a trip to school – Directors Mark and Sabine Robinson went to Addingham Primary School. Mark gave an assembly presentation to the 270 pupils about Germany and the German language, and Sabine spent the morning in classrooms answering questions about Germany and making potato salad German style. Mark has spoken to secondary schools over the years but this was the first time speaking to the age range of 4-11 years - and the level of enthusiasm was very stimulating!

March 2009: Alexika E-Newsletter 
We plan to send our E-Newsletter regularly this year with updates and items of linguistic interest. We do not want to send unwanted emails so, in compliance with the latest permission-based marketing guidelines, all newsletters will include a link to unsubscribe easily, and new subscribers will be asked to follow a ‘confirmation-request’ link to confirm that they want to receive the Newsletter. Please ring, email or fill in our contact form if you would like to subscribe.

January 2009: Alexika signs technology partnership agreement
Alexika has worked with SDL Trados leading-edge translation management technology for a number of years now. The benefits of the technology for clients include better technology management for high quality consistent translation, and the ability to handle a vast range of file formats. Alexika has now formalised the relationship with the signing of a partnership agreement – as part of which members of the Alexika team are undergoing additional training, and we will receive software updates as soon as they are released.  For further information please contact Mark Robinson.

December 2008: Renewed ISO9001 Accreditation for Alexika Ltd
Following a rigorous assessment, we are pleased to announce that Alexika Ltd has renewed accreditation as an ISO9001 quality assured firm. Ever since the company was established in 1998, delivery of high quality translations has been central to everything that we do. We find that formally setting out our quality procedures is a positive process and we believe that our clients will benefit in years to come.  We are grateful again to the British Accreditation Bureau for their help in preparing us for assessment.

August 08: Team changes at Alexika
We are pleased to announce that Becky Taylor has joined the team as Translations Coordinator. Becky has a degree in French and International Relations from the University of Reading. Her previous work includes a successful spell in the publishing industry handling publishing rights for many well-known children’s books where perhaps her most unusual assignment was to organise a translation into Romany. Gemma Cooper is also joining us as Translations Coordinator. Gemma is completing her MA in Italian Translation at the University of Salford and will join us full time after completing her dissertation. Gemma also has a degree in Italian and Spanish from the University of Leicester and has worked in the textiles industry, where she was involved in ISO9001 Quality Standard implementation. We are delighted to welcome both Becky and Gemma.

Diane Green has left the company after 4 years as her family has moved away from the area. Many clients and suppliers came to rely on Diane’s patient and thorough approach to her work. We are very grateful for her hard work and wish her every success in the future.

October 2008: Sabine to tackle Great North Run for MS Trust charity
Alexika co-founder and director Sabine Robinson has entered the Great North Run in the North-East of England – which is officially the world’s biggest half-marathon! On 5th October, she will be running on behalf of the MS Trust – a charity which works with and for the 85,000 people in the UK with MS (Multiple Sclerosis.) She’ll find it much easier to get through the 20km with your support – you can sponsor Sabine through www.justgiving.com/sabi-greatnorthrun - your money will be sent straight to the MS Trust.

December 2007: Historical research at Alexika office
Our latest computer upgrade and office decoration project is a poignant reminder of recent historical research. We were curious to know something about the history of our office building in Addingham in the North of England and eminent local historian Arnold Pacey was kind enough to give us his thoughts. It seems that the building was originally divided into several units, split between commercial use as possibly a drapers shop and a tailors shop and also domestic use. It is possible that the domestic use was shared with commercial weaving in the early 1800s. We are based in an area of the North of England that was caught up in the technological surge of the industrial revolution, where some leading-edge textile technology was developed. It is fascinating to think of these previous lives as we work on translations for the 21st century!

June 2007: Sponsored Lyke Wake walk
Mark Robinson, Director of Alexika, completed a sponsored 40 mile (60 km) sponsored walk for charity on 21st June 2007. He was part of a group raising money for the Prostate Research Campaign UK. The Lyke Wake Walk covers 40 miles of the North Yorkshire Moors in the North of England, and is thought to follow routes taken by medieval coffin carriers. Walkers must complete the walk within 24 hours to earn the title of 'dirger' - as you can read at www.lykewake.org. Mark completed the walk in 15.5 hours - exhausted but happy! Many Alexika clients and suppliers were amongst the sponsors and Mark is very grateful indeed for their support - the 10 people walking on the day raised over £20,000 between them.