We know that there are lots of pressures being placed on interpreters in the current climate. We are being expected to work for less, under eroding terms and conditions, yet with more CPD requirements than ever before.

In a bid to counter this, NUBSLI established Freelance Fee Guidance for its members. Many non-members have misunderstood the aim of this document, which is not to dictate fees and terms and conditions, but is rather an attempt to stop the race to the bottom and a situation whereby individual interpreters are out-bidding each other for work.

It is in all BSL/English Interpreters advantage for us to “upwardly harmonise” – that is, rather than be the lowest bidder for work, we all set our fees at the same sustainable rate, thereby encouraging those, who may have been charging less, upwards.

After deductions of all the necessary outgoings it can be reasonably estimated that on average interpreters only take home between 30-40% of their fee. The race to the bottom is not sustainable and can only be maintained short-term: the affect it will have on the market will be devastating.

At a time when sustainability of the profession is being pulled into question, the government are looking to establish a national framework agreement. The aim of this framework is to reduce cost. From experience, we already know that big contracts don’t work, as evidenced by the MOJ contract.

The Crown Commercial Services department (who are responsible for creating framework agreements and sit under the Cabinet Office), explained to NUBSLI that the new framework will be based on existing fulfilment of current contracts. However we already know that this doesn’t meet need.

Further reductions in the pricing structure mean that BSL/English Interpreting is threatened with no longer being viable as a career.

Is our profession in crisis? We will be repeating our survey in a few months and are interested in your views.

Please get in touch if you would like to be involved in this piece of work.