December 10th, 2010
An expanding international business services group, which recently gained its first foothold in Africa, has been recognised for providing work placements for multi-lingual students.
The company has also recruited three new senior managers.
The European Marketing Agency (TEMA), based at Saltaire, Shipley, provides services ranging from translation and marketing to recruitment and logistics.
TEMA was recognised by the Bradford Education Business Partnership with the Quality Standard Award for Work Placement.
Since TEMA launched in 2006, the multilingual company has been offering work experience to students with an interest in languages and business.
TEMA employs 35 bilingual staff working with global clients on a daily basis. More than 11 languages are used across its operations.
Chief executive Jim Hart said: “I studied French and German at university and have worked in international environments ever since.
“I believe it is very important to support young people in their education and their choice to learn languages, which is why we always welcome students.”
Lindsey Johnson, partnership officer at Bradford Education Business Partnership, said: “We are reliant on the goodwill of organisations to offer work experience opportunities. It is therefore heartening when those that do go that extra step to guarantee the placements are worthwhile and effective.
“We are indebted to TEMA, not only for their placement offer but also for their support into the curriculum around modern foreign languages. This accreditation is evidence of their commitment to the positive development of our young people.”
TEMA offers four multilingual services to companies looking to expand overseas including telemarketing, translation, web development and recruitment.
The group has offices in Australia, South Africa and Mauritius and has worked with clients such as Lego, Emirates Airline and Laptop Power. Meanwhile, the three new recruits are Michelle Littlewood, IT specialist Andrew Hawksworth and Danish-born Mette Loebner who will head telemarketing, web development and translation.
Mr Hart also set up sister company Europlus Direct five years ago to sell IBM services to business partners and end-users.
He recently returned from Senegal, where he established an IBM spare parts operation.
The contract marked the first step towards setting up offices in Senegal, Angola and Mozambique.
Mr Hart said: “It is very exciting for the TEMA Group to expand the business in the African continent.
“We are always on the lookout for new international business opportunities and we will be able to pass our experience of doing business in several African countries on to other UK businesses looking to expand internationally.”
Europlus Direct is also helping local business partners sell IBM maintenance contracts and provide spare parts to African countries.
Europlus Direct achieved the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2008.
The deadline for entering the National Council for Work Experience awards has been extended to Friday, January 7. Employers, students and careers advisers can nominate organisations by visiting work-experience.org/awards.
Source: Telegraph & Argus
