It’s been one year since Clarion UK officially joined thebigword Group, marking the start of a new chapter in our mission to empower the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and provide best-in-class interpreting and education support.
Reflecting on the past 12 months with members of our senior team, a few clear themes emerge: growth, learning, and the power of collaboration. Jessica Trotter (Business Director), Paula Hall (Head of Legal Services), and Kelly Ashford (Onboarding and Supplier Compliance Manager) share their thoughts on the journey so far.
Progress Through Partnership
Becoming part of a larger organisation naturally brought change, from new reporting structures to broader cross-departmental collaboration. While the transition came with a learning curve, our team embraced the opportunity to grow their roles, build new connections, and contribute to wider company goals.
Paula Hall reflected: “The last 12 months have been about us bedding in with thebigword, each of us learning how the other works. Moving forward, the best of both companies will hopefully benefit us all.”
Innovation and Impact
Over the past year, Clarion has taken bold steps in service delivery, particularly in Video Interpreting and AI-assisted bookings. We’ve also achieved ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus compliance, reinforcing our commitment to security, quality, and efficiency.
Jessica Trotter shared: “These advancements have not only improved our services, but have also strengthened our ability to meet evolving client needs.”
A Culture of Collaboration
If one word defines the past year, it’s collaboration. Departments that once worked in silos are now working in harmony across operations, sales, compliance, recruitment, HR, and more.
Jessica said: “The synergy has been remarkable. This spirit of teamwork has enabled faster innovation, shared learning, and more integrated support for our clients.”
The Power of People
Through all the changes, the heart of Clarion – its people – has remained steady and strong. From long-standing team members to new colleagues, every person has contributed to our shared success.
Kelly Ashford shared: “Clients appreciate having a personal point of contact…Our team’s knowledge, consistency, and care make a real difference.”
Paula echoed this sentiment: “Our reputation, our staff, and our passion for ensuring the end user gets the right support, these are what make Clarion stand out.”
Staying True to Clarion’s Roots
Despite becoming part of a global group, Clarion’s values remain unchanged. Clients and suppliers continue to benefit from the relationships and continuity built over years of dedicated service.
“Our clients like having a personal point of contact. We’ve built long-term relationships with suppliers and clients alike,” said Paula.
Listening, Learning, and Looking Ahead
Client satisfaction remains strong, with feedback highlighting our responsiveness, insight-led reporting, and high standards of service.
Kelly stated: “Clarion UK has always been held in high regard for the services we provide, and the level of personal customer service and flexibility that we provide to both our suppliers and clients.”
Jessica noted: “Clients consistently rate our services highly and appreciate quick turnaround times, data insights, and our commitment to going above and beyond.”
We’ve also introduced group sessions with interpreters to share best practices, further strengthening our supplier community.
The Journey Continues
If Clarion were to be summed up in three words, Paula chose them perfectly:
Dedicated. Passionate. Trustworthy.
As we continue evolving within thebigword Group, these qualities will remain at the heart of everything we do. Thank you to our team, clients, and partners for your support during this exciting first year. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and even more excited for what’s next.