Innovative translations firm earns Chamber awards hat-trick

A Birmingham-based firm which provides translation and interpretation services in 350 languages and dialects claimed a hat-trick of honours at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s annual dinner and awards last night.

Word360, headquartered in Edgbaston, took home the overall Greater Birmingham Business of the Year crown, having also won the Excellence in Contribution to the Community and Excellence in Customer Service categories.

The award winners were announced in front of more than 1,000 people at the ICC in Birmingham city centre.

The event was hosted by broadcaster and comedienne Noreen Khan and supported by headline sponsors Birmingham City University and Elonex.

Co-founded in 2013 by husband and wife team Tiku Chauhan and Kavita Parmar, Word360 is a language technology company which works with public, private and not-for-profit organisations to help them deliver access to services through its own tech platform 'Wordskii'.

Word360's network of self-employed interpreters can help clients with translation services at any time and anywhere, either in-person or via video or telephone.

The service is used by multiple sectors but the team has focused on health and social care and especially supporting local communities and people from disadvantaged and hard-to-reach backgrounds.

Judges described Word360 as “an excellent company that exemplifies Birmingham - combining tech, innovation and entrepreneurialism with diversity and wellbeing for communities.”

They added: “Word360 demonstrate a high level of flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs, use their data and understanding of communities to target provision and find out about emerging needs.

“Their innovative technology solutions change the experience of both patients and healthcare providers. 

“Word360 really understand what is needed to give the most diverse people access to health and care services and enable communications for all abilities.”

Judging the 2024 awards were Zoe Bennett BEM, founder of Training Personified; Andreas Antona, chef-owner at Simpsons restaurant; Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder and director of Living For The Weekend; Karl George, partner at RSM UK and GBCC board member; Gurmit Kler, trustee of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust; Raidene Carter, creative director, Birmingham Festival; Omar Rashid, president of Asian Business Chamber of Commerce and managing director/owner of The HR Dept Bham Central & Wolves; Suzie Branch-Haddow, vice principal - external development, Birmingham Metropolitan College; Steve Allen, GBCC past president; Rob Valentine, regional director – Birmingham at Bruntwood; Nicola Beckford, BBC Midlands Today presenter and journalist; Heike Schuster-James, head of partnership development at Birmingham City University.

Chair of the judges was the GBCC’s head of membership Lillian Elekan.

The winners:

Greater Birmingham Business of the Year - sponsored by Crowe UK LLP
Word360

Excellence in Contribution to the Community – sponsored by runyourfleet
Word360

Excellence in Customer Service – sponsored by Birmingham Airport
Word360

Excellence in Hospitality, Retail & Events – sponsored by Shakespeare Martineau
Millennium Point        

Excellence in Inclusive People Development - sponsored by South & City College Birmingham
Birmingham Hippodrome       

Excellence in International Business - sponsored by Gowling WLG
Ginho

Excellence in Manufacturing – sponsored by Thursfields
Evac+Chair International       

Excellence in Sales & Marketing – sponsored by Schumacher Packaging
Story

Excellence in Sustainability – sponsored by Aston University
National Memorial Arboretum

Excellence in Technology & Innovation – sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Management
Forensic Pathways Ltd          

Excellence in Third Sector – sponsored by Unity Trust Bank
Birmingham Hospice 

Excellence in Training & Education – sponsored by AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group
GuruYou         

President’s Award
Dr Hany El-Banna, founder of Islamic Relief 

Pictured: Host Noreen Khan with Word360's Kavita Parmar and Crowe's Johnathan Dudley