Alexandra interprets a route into business

Dec 4 2007 By Peter McCusker, The Journal

A FORMER Polish shop worker has used her language skills to set up her own business. Alexandra Jarocka was fluent in three languages by the time she was four years old.

With family situated all over Europe and having lived all over the world, she developed a wide range of linguistic skills and can now speak in six languages.

Settling in the UK eight years ago, Alexandra has worked in various roles including retail management, but in 2003 she became an interpreter for the police on a part-time basis. She said: “Linguistics is something I have always been able to pick up really easily, so I thoroughly enjoyed using my skills as a translator for the police. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a full-time position and I was only called in to work as and when they needed me.

“I always intended to apply my skills fully and use them to build my career, so I started thinking about going it alone.”  

Alexandra, from Annfield Plain in County Durham, has been helped through the Be Enterprising Programme operating in the areas of Derwentside, Easington, Sedgefield and the Wear Valley.

Intensive business support from Be Enterprising’s Emerge business start-up programme and Derwentside’s Business Development Team has helped Alexandra, by providing practical assistance and financial help.

She added: “I originally contacted the Princes Trust and Derwentside Industrial Development Agency, who then referred me to Derwentside District Council and Be Enterprising for additional support.”

With the help provided from DIDA, Derwentside District Council and Be Enterprising, Alexandra launched her own business, Alexandra & Co, three months ago and is now providing interpretation and translation services to public authorities and private businesses. Alexandra added: “Most of my business at the moment comes from the police, magistrates, crown courts and so on, but I am also taking on work from private businesses and schools, so I have some real variety from day to day – I have recently provided translations for a Christmas card company and will be shortly interpreting a health and safety video. Be Enterprising’s Emerge programme have been really helpful and I don’t know what I would have done without them – I am looking to develop the business further by expanding my own linguistic skills,  and am planning to take on another two interpreters who speak different languages to myself to help with the workload!” The Be Enterprising programme complements and works with existing business start-up services by providing a different level of support and offering practical help for anyone who wants to be their own boss.

Anyone thinking of starting up their own business or who would like to know more should contact 0800 030-4134.