thebigword named finalist for Lloyds British Business Excellence Award

Leeds-based language services company thebigword has been shortlisted for the Dext Innovation of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. The recognition spotlights WordSynk Virtual, the company’s 24/7 video and audio interpreting platform with access to interpreters in more than 250 languages.

Why it matters: - thebigword’s shortlisting puts a Leeds-based company on the national stage at one of the UK’s flagship business awards. - The recognition points to growing demand for fast, multilingual communication tools in healthcare, local government, justice and legal services. - WordSynk Virtual is the innovation being recognized, highlighting the role of language technology in critical service settings.

What happened: - thebigword was named a finalist in the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. - The company was shortlisted for the Dext Innovation of the Year Award. - thebigword is one of 10 businesses shortlisted in the category. - The awards program includes almost 200 finalists across 20 categories. - Lloyds Bank headlines the awards, with ITV as media partner and support from the UK government. - Winners will be announced at Grosvenor House in London on Tuesday 10 November 2026. - About 1,200 business leaders are expected at the gala ceremony.

The details: - Joshua Gould, chief executive officer at thebigword, said the shortlisting reflects the passion, expertise and commitment of the company’s people. - Gould said thebigword’s success is driven by the combination of people, automation and technology delivered through WordSynk. - thebigword provides interpreting, translation and localisation services across spoken and non-spoken languages. - The company works with local government, healthcare, justice and legal sector clients. - WordSynk Virtual gives users instant, 24/7 access to interpreters from any device. - The platform supports more than 250 languages. - Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, said thebigword is bringing new ideas, investing in its community and helping drive growth in the UK. - Awards tradition includes winners ringing the opening bell at the London Stock Exchange. - Winners are also celebrated at an annual reception at the House of Commons.

Between the lines: - The shortlisting suggests investors, customers and public-sector buyers are paying closer attention to language platforms that can scale quickly and work across channels. - Thebigword is using the award nod to reinforce a broader message: language access is not just a support function, but part of core service delivery. - The competition is crowded, so a finalist spot gives the company external validation even before the winners are announced.

What's next: - Thebigword will compete for the Dext Innovation of the Year Award ahead of the November ceremony. - The winner will be revealed at the gala event in London. - Award finalists and winners will continue to be promoted through the broader Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards program.

The bottom line: - thebigword’s finalist spot underscores how language technology is becoming a more visible business advantage in essential services.