“I trained and registered as a Sign Language Interpreter (RSLI) and graduated in 2005 from the SLI course with UCLAN. One year on, almost to the day – I felt like I had achieved my big goal but was still not quite satisfied with the impact that I had made. I still found myself frustrated at the lack of ethically run Interpreting Agencies.”
terptree was officially born! ‘terp’ short for Interpreter and ‘tree’ just because Victoria loves trees – this business’s ambition has grown substantially since its beginnings of providing Sign Language Interpreting Services.
With a mission to Change the World for Deaf People, terptree supports some of the largest global brands and public services affecting change by creating a world class deaf customer experience.
terptree is a multi award winning business full of deeply passionate people who care about creating social change and truly educating and empowering deaf and hearing people.
Sarah Bryers from Target PR describes clearly that journey that Victoria and terptree has taken – “She could make a difference to the way that the deaf community experience the world, helping to make it fairer and more accessible. Not just by interpreting, but by taking her team’s insight, expertise and experience out to institutions and employers, and helping society to change. Practical steps, achievable improvements, making her own contribution and helping others to contribute too.”
And to the question that everyone asks – why did Victoria decide to work with deaf people?
Victoria started learning British Sign Language (BSL) at the age of 13, when her cousin Max was diagnosed as profoundly Deaf. The moment she started signing and became involved in the Deaf community, going to deaf clubs and volunteering at various charity events, she could see the affinity that she had within the community, feeling a real sense of belonging that she had not experienced before.
Max is always at the heart of what terptree does. The daily barriers that he faces accessing the world acts as a deep-rooted motivation for Victoria to truly make the world a place where deaf people can exist equally to hearing people.
Victoria’s strong connection with the deaf community brings understanding of the real issues that are faced, and it is Victoria’s wealth of knowledge and experience that enables terptree to help implement the real-time solutions to make these changes happen.
Delivered live online training on Remote Interpreting to 300 Sign Language Interpreters during COVID-19 to prepare them for these new working conditions.
Victoria was selected as a finalist in the National Entrepreneur Awards!
Worked with Legal and General to Audit their Deaf customer journey
Produced and released a training film about serving deaf customers for British Airways
Presented to the entire giffgaff team at Universigaff
Ran a workshop at CX Forum on the deaf customer journey
Exhibited and presented at the Restaurant and Takeaway Expo
terptree funds and launches a deaf education video project titled “I am me” with Deaf Parents Deaf Children featuring
Victoria presented on the Panel at ASLI Going Pro event at University of Wolverhampton
Ran the first People, Power and Parliament event with the Houses of Parliaments to enable the deaf community to lobby and campaign for important issue
terptree donated Sign Language Interpreter Training to developing countries
Published in NEWSLI
Started working with the Houses of Parliament Community Outreach and Engagement team
Shortlisted for the Tayabali Tomlin Social Responsibility Award
Victoria appears on BBC South Today on a feature discussing deaf peoples lack of access to subtitles at the cinema
terptree works with the Royal Albert Hall to run the first ever Relaxed Prom
terptree published in the British Deaf News
terptree launches its Podcast
Featured in the South East Business Magazine on ‘Why Business Need Make Themselves More Accessible to Deaf People’
Joined B1G1
Winner of the Entrepreneur of the month award with Entrepreneurs Circle
Shortlisted for the National Women in Business Awards
West Berkshire Business Awards Small Business Award winner
terptree celebrates its 10th year in business!
terptree were the first in the UK to launch a series of Online Training Sessions aimed to improving access to interpreter education for Sign Language Interpreters and other Communication Professionals
Victoria attended the House of Commons to raise issues about deaf people’s access
Victoria presented at Young Enterprise Awards on the key elements of business
Victoria interpreted for Prime Minister, David Cameron
terptree ran its first event for Sign Language Interpreters and other Communication Professionals
Worked with the National Army Museum on their Unseen Enemy exhibition to make it fully accessible in British Sign Language throughout
Featured in the Slough Observer for Award win
Small Business Sunday winners and Victoria met Theo Paphitis
Victoria represented terptree at Westminster Abbey a service to mark the 40th anniversary of the coming into effect of the chronically sick and disabled persons ACT (1970
Prize giving at St Gabriels School in Newbury
Victoria presented at local Colleges to support students in business
terptree were featured on BBC Radio Berkshire
First signed carol concert in Newbury raising money for National Deaf Children’s Society
Victoria presented at ‘What’s Stopping you?’ event with Business Link – one-day women’s start up business days
Victoria presented at local Colleges to support students in business
terptree ran a range of events over Deaf Awareness Week in local schools
Victoria involved in Young Enterprise scheme activities
Ran events over Deaf Awareness Week to educate people about how to communicate with deaf people
Launched terptree online – our online booking system for British Sign Language Interpreting Services
Published in NEWSLI, - magazine for the Association of Sign Language Interpreters
terptree created terptree online – our online booking system for British Sign Language Interpreting Services to deal with the growing needs of the business
Published in NEWSLI, Magazine for the Association of Sign Language Interpreters
Victoria interpreted for two deaf participants at Great Wall of China Trek and to Poland for Playback Theatre presentation from University of Readin
terptree was founded
Here is the team that makes all the magic happen!
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Victoria started learning British Sign Language (BSL) at the age of 13 when her cousin Max was diagnosed as profoundly deaf. She very quickly became involved in the Deaf Community...
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Drawn to terptree’s mission to change the world for deaf people, Rob joined in March 2020. Prior to this Rob worked primarily within financial services and for a range of...
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Alison is an experienced Executive and Marketing Assistant who has over 25 years' experience working with diverse entrepreneurs in a range of Industries and sectors and who really loves a...
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Charlotte joined terptree in Summer 2020. She brings over 10 years of marketing and public relations experience to the team. Charlotte has worked in several sectors including construction, education, commercial...
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Caroline brings 20 years experience in customer service and previously a Service Delivery Manager for The AA. Caroline is passionate about customer experience and has been awarded Institute of Customer...
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Melanie is a well-established member of our finance team. When she started working in accounts, something just clicked and she is still passionate about it over 15 years later. In...
Today was a fantastic experience and we’re so grateful for your support at terptree for making this possible! Our deaf team member really enjoyed the experience and got a lot out of it and is looking forward to more of the same! I would like to once more share my thanks and gratitude for everybody’s involvement.
Connect Assist |
We contacted terptree for a signer to help us out at a Parents Evening. They quickly found someone in the local area that was happy to come out in the evening to sign and accompany a parent around the hall translating their child’s progress.
We were very happy with the quick prompt service that we received from terptree. They liaised well between us and the signer. Thank you, we will certainly use terptree again.
Kennet School, Thatcham |
The service has been absolutely brilliant! I think terptree is a great service for deaf people and I would like to thank all of the Notetakers who have worked with me. Thank you for all the extra miles you’ve gone it’s been very appreciated! I shall be recommending your agency when I transfer to my next University!
Deaf Student, Diploma in Art and Design |
Just want to say thank you so much for the interpreters provided through terptree this year.
It has been fantastic working with terptree, if I did not understand words or meanings in the lecture – the interpreters explained them to me which I really appreciated. Looking forward to working with them again in the next term.
Deaf student, Early Childhood Studies |
University of South Wales |
We discovered terptree through the student training with us, who knew of the organisation and suggested them as a source of sign language interpreters.
At the time we needed two sign language interpreters to assist with clinical training that was to take place over three days. The student was able to complete the three days of training, and both the student and the facilitators confirmed the training went smoothly. And having the sign language interpreters there enabled her to follow what is quite an intensive training course without any trouble.
terptree were so helpful! Our request was quite last minute but I received a very quick response to my emails, and an interpreter was found at short notice. We would definitely use the service again if and when required.
The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust |
Sky Productions inherited terptree as a ‘recommended company’ from previous colleagues and managers. But we are more than happy to continue relationships with them.
We use both technical and colloquial terms, so it’s so beneficial to be able to use a BSL Interpreter provider that understand these, and the interpreters from terptree can do so.
Using terptree has enabled us to have a more personal relationship with our deaf team member that is more than just the written word in emails and text messages. It means we can communicate on a broader level, so it’s beneficial to both her and us.
There is improved understanding and a better rapport. We can also provide a more effective ‘person to person’ staff training process and address any issues in an appropriate manner and environment.
We highly recommend terptree to anyone needing more than an average BSL interpreter!
Sky Productions (BSkyB) |
“It is because of the services we can offer through terptree that deaf students are actually able to come here.They have the ability to access all their classes and attend appointments.And that’s integral because if they haven’t got an Interpreter then they can’t access any information and they might not be able to come to University.
I would definitely recommend them; one of the main reasons being is because I do think they offer a professional service.They are an exceptional organisation.”
Middlesex University | Sharon Rankin
terptree ltd
registered in England and Wales
No: 05941442
Registered office:
483 Green Lanes
London
N13 4BS
VAT: 903 8868 95
