Linguists Collective Conference & International Mother Language Day IMLD Celebration
Linguists Collective Conference & International Mother
Language Day Celebration
Saturday, 21st February 2026
From Mother Tongue to Public Service Interpreter: Pathways into Professional Practice in the UK
In this practical, skills-focused session, Marta Leigh will guide bilingual and heritage-language speakers through the key pathways into public service interpreting and translation in the UK. Drawing on extensive experience across legal, medical and community settings, the talk will break down how existing language skills can be developed into a sustainable professional career. Attendees will gain clear, actionable insight into qualification routes. This will include Level 3 community interpreting, Level 6 professional pathways and translation-focused options, alongside guidance on choosing training providers, assessments and next steps for career progression. The session will also highlight the vital role public service linguists play in ensuring effective communication, dignity and equality, making this an ideal training opportunity for those looking to enter the profession or strengthen their position within it.
About Leigh
Marta Leigh is a highly experienced legal and medical interpreter, translator and sworn translator, with over two decades of professional practice across the UK and Poland. She specialises in public service settings including courts, police forces, NHS environments and wider government work, and is known for her precise, ethical and culturally informed approach. Marta holds advanced interpreting and translation qualifications and is a registered sworn translator in Poland. Alongside her professional practice, she works as a tutor, assessor and mentor for leading UK training providers, supporting qualifications such as the Level 3 Certificate in Community Interpreting, the Level 6 Diploma in Public Service Interpreting, CertTrans and DipTrans. She is the founder of Klotski Translations Ltd. and is particularly committed to supporting bilingual and heritage-language speakers in developing their mother tongue into a professional career in public service interpreting or translation.