Languages on-line from Catherine

Catherine Gilsenan had a passion for foreign languages from an early age. She has now channelled that passion by setting up her own translation and interpreter business, with the help of a short course from the University of Teesside. Catherine, 45, from Darlington, enrolled on the three-month Women into Business course, which aims to address the shortfall in female entrepreneurs across the Tees Valley. It is offered by the University and taught in the community. The next session enrols in Middlesbrough on 25 June.

Catherine first left Darlington aged 18 to study for a degree in French and Spanish in London. She followed her degree with a Bilingual Secretary’s Diploma and an Institute of Languages Diploma in translation. Catherine said: “I’ve always enjoyed speaking other languages. I also enjoy the process of translating and interpreting to help people. Languages were my future; they were what I did best.”

Following her studies, Catherine worked as a bilingual secretary in London and then an interpreter for Bradford NHS Trust. When Catherine, husband Mike and son Christopher returned to Darlington, Catherine started to think about setting up her own business and was shown a leaflet about the Women into Business course.

Catherine said: “I’m far more confident after the course. We explored business skills such as marketing, market research and also the finance elements of cash flow and balance sheets. We also undertook a feasibility study to see if your proposed business could take off.

“One thing which was really helpful was a question and answer session, from women who had recently started their own businesses. We were allowed to ask anything, in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.”

Catherine’s on-line business will offer translations from French and Spanish into English. She can be emailed at cjgilsenan@dsl.pipex.co.uk

The next Women into Business programme will begin on 25 June in Middlesbrough. The course runs for one day per week over six weeks followed by three months of mentoring support.

Successful students are also awarded a University Certificate in Professional Development - Foundations of Enterprise. It is free to women in the Tees Valley, provided they have not started up in business or are in full-time education. Contact Rebecca Hodgson on 01642 342868, email: R.Hodgson@tees.ac.uk.

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