List of UK interpreting and translation associations
There are numerous associations within the United Kingdom aiming in various ways to assist local translators, interpreters and/or translation/interpreting companies/agencies, as shown below.
A branch of Unite the Union, NUBSLI was established in May 2014 and represents British Sign Language/English interpreters/translators in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.
Charity founded 1910; around 6000 members (400 on NRPSI).
- Translators' Guild
Former part of the IoL; breakaway group left to form the ITI.
- Association of Qualified Translators and Interpreters (AQTI)
A formal membership organisation which brings professionals and users of translators and interpreters together.
- National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI)
An independent regulator for interpreters working with public services, formerly administered by the CIOL. See SPSI (below) and http://www.nrpsi.co.uk/
Trade union founded in 1958, as part of the Society of Authors. For literary translators.
- Association of Police and Court Interpreters (APCI)
Founded 1974; around 250 NRPSI members. See http://www.apciinterpreters.org.uk/
- Association of Translation Companies (ATC)
Founded in 1976; around 180 member companies. See http://www.atc.org.uk/
Founded in 1976; around 140 members, of which 75% are translators.
- National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD)
Founded in 2009 based on registers used since 1982.
Non-profit organization founded 1986; around 3000 members (75 on NRPSI).
- Association of Sign Language Interpreters (ASLI)
Formerly administered from the same premises as ITI. See http://www.asli.org.uk/
- National Union of Professional Interpreters and Translators (NUPIT)
Founded in 2001. Part of Unite, the largest trade union in the UK; around 100 members. See http://www.unitetheunion.org/nupit
- Society of Official Metropolitan Interpreters UK Ltd (SOMI UK Ltd)
Formed in 2009 to represent Metropolitan Police interpreters. Its purpose is to make representations on behalf of its members, to advocate for their rights and interests, and to liaise and negotiate with work providers and official bodies. See http://www.somiukltd.com/
- Professional Interpreters' Alliance (PIA)
Founded in 2010 primarily due to concern about the effect of arrangements between Applied Language Solutions and certain police forces regarding the hiring of interpreters. Around 320 NRPSI members. See http://profintal.org/ (previously profintal.org.uk) and http://rpsi.name/
- Society for Public Service Interpreting (SPSI)
Formed in April 2011 as successor to some of the functions of the NRPSI.[1]
- Association of Professional Tourist Guides (APTG)
An autonomous group within Unite. See http://www.touristguides.org.uk/
- Scottish Tourist Guides Association (STGA)
- Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) Interpreters Panel
Now part of a unified Tribunals framework. See http://www.tribunals.gov.uk/ImmigrationAsylum/FAQs/FAQ9.htm
Founded 1953. Not UK-centric, but lists over 120 interpreters based in the UK. See http://www.aiic.net/
- Visual Language Professionals (VLP)
See http://www.vlp.org.uk/ Largest number of qualified language professionals ( Sign Language Interpreters and Lip speakers), with members in England,Scotland,Wales and N Ireland.