Using a London borough to provide translation and interpretation services has saved Nottinghamshire £50,000 a year, the county council has said.
According to LG news:
Nottinghamshire County Council has become the first local authority outside of London to use the Language Shop to deliver interpretation services. The Language Shop, part of the London Borough of Newham, provides services such as interpreting for social care meetings and translating documents for court papers.
In the first quarter of 2014, the Language Shop has carried out 500 jobs for the council, with 99% of professional users rating it is a good or excellent. The council said the move will save more than £50,000 a year while delivering service improvements.
Cllr Alan Rhodes, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: ‘People benefiting from the service are often experiencing difficult situations, so it is reassuring that the feedback we have received since the change has been so overwhelmingly positive.
‘By working with Newham Council we have been able to both improve our service and save money by tapping into their existing expertise and resources. This is a good example of how we are redefining the council to focus our services on the needs of the people of Nottinghamshire.’