The Welsh Language and your Business
The use of Welsh together with English is seen as giving a clear competitive edge in helping to win new customers. It gives a clear advantage when dealing with Welsh-speaking customers and for non-Welsh-speaking customers, seeing and hearing Welsh adds a sense of difference and is a talking point.
The use of Welsh in marketing activities such as advertisements, brochures and leaflets also sends a very positive message, particularly to Welsh speakers, while bilingual packaging and labelling of goods made in Wales gives manufacturers a chance to add to their exclusivity.
The Welsh Language Board 
The starting point for all your Welsh language queries - well worth exploring the site. You will find details of local contacts as well as a great deal of helpful information and interesting reports.
For example, their page of Welsh Language Computer Resources is excellent - everything from how to get the
circumflex accent on ’w’ and ’y’ to Welsh spellcheckers, Welsh language signs for shops and bilingual web design resources.
Mentrau Iaith
A network of community-based local language initiatives which visit businesses, organisations and individuals and offer advice and practical assistance on how Welsh might be used more. At
present, there are over 20 "mentrau iaith" in Wales. They all have websites which you can access from here.
Menter a Busnes
Menter a Busnes Enterprise and Business is an economic development company, established in 1989, which seeks to develop enterprise in its widest sense, and business in particular, as part of
Welsh language and culture today.
July 2002: Funding announced to support & promote Welsh Language
The Minister for Culture, Sport & the Welsh Language, Jenny Randerson, has announced 450,000 funding to support and promote the Welsh Language. The funding will allow the
Welsh Language Board to initiate seven projects including a consultancy service to assist private businesses to make more use of Welsh, and for project officers to work with companies to develop
translation services.
August 2002: Calls for More Bilingual Companies
The Welsh Language Board WLB is to target more businesses to increase voluntary use of Welsh and bilingualism in the private sector. A new drive in autumn will see activities designed to
increase take up of the Board’s free advisory services and small grants schemes. Target sectors include food and drink companies, and tourism businesses, where bilingualism is known to increase
marketing potential and customer service.
The Welsh Language Boards LinkLine to Welsh provides short translations up to 20 words free of charge. The LinkLine is open from 10.00 - 12.30 and from 1.30 - 3.30 from Monday to Friday, and can be contacted by phoning 0845 607 6070, or by e-mail to cyswllt@bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk
Welsh Language Helplines
Organisations offering a Welsh language service.
Welsh Dictionary
Translates English words to Welsh, and Welsh to English.
Ken Owen - Translator
A Welsh Translator from the Isle of Anglesey offering Translations, Proof-reading, editing, and Welsh voiceovers.
Welsh Language Act 1993
Full text available online. To find a useful summary of the law, check out this page from the Welsh Language Board. The
Welsh Language Act 1993 does not place a direct legal obligation on private businesses or voluntary organisations to offer services in Welsh.
The State of the Welsh Language 2000
You can download an interesting survey on the state of the Welsh language at the beginning of the millennium - includes useful statistics. The survey measured the attitudes of people in Wales
towards the language & it also measured the level of use and the confidence of Welsh speakers in a number of situations, while assessing the potential demand for more opportunities to use the
language.
Snapshot Survey
A very interesting report on websites complying with statutory language schemes with some good recommendations for bilingual sites.
