Businesses in Wrexham can make use of a free translation and advice service to help use more day to day Welsh, as the newly-awarded city prepares to welcome the National Eisteddfod in 2025.
Any business looking to incorporate more Welsh into its website content, product signage, social media posts or advertising can make use of Helo Blod – a free Welsh translation and advice service set up by the Welsh Government.
Launched in March 2020 to support the Welsh Government’s Cymraeg 2050 strategy, Helo Blod offers businesses and charities up to 500 words a month translated, free of charge.
The service also offers text checking of up to 1000 words as well as practical advice, guidance, and support to help businesses use more Welsh, including providing bilingual signage. Over the past two years, 1,121 businesses across Wales have used Helo Blod, either online or by phone, with the service proving popular among cafes, shops, professional services and food and drink producers looking to use more Welsh. The service also celebrated translating 1 million words in July 2022.
Wrexham is set to host the National Eisteddfod for the seventh time in 2025 – 149 years on from its first time welcoming the iconic cultural event in 1876. The National Eisteddfod is in full swing in Tregaron this week (Sat 30th July – Sat 6th August) and attracts 6,000 competitors and 250 traders as well as a more than 150,000 people each year to a town or city across Wales over 8 days.
Independent research also shows that the National Eisteddfod has an economic impact of between £6 – £8 million on the local area during the week itself, with tourism and hospitality outlets benefiting most. The economic legacy of the National Eisteddfod in Treorchy in 2024 is predicted to be worth more than £15 million to Rhondda Cynon Taf.
With this in mind, Helo Blod is urging any Wrexham business looking to benefit positively from the impact of the Welsh language event heading to the city once more to make use of the service and reap the benefits of using more Cymraeg.
Made with Zeal, the website & graphic design specialists based in Wrexham said: “We love the Welsh language and being able to share it with as many people as possible makes Made with Zeal happy! Helo Blod helps us to do this, with their professional, efficient, and friendly service! What an amazing resource – Diolch Helo Blod!”
Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, said: “Helo Blod, our free Welsh translation and advice service for businesses and charities, has helped thousands of people to use more Welsh in their daily lives. Just using a little Welsh can help you spread your message further, turn customers into regulars and bring communities together.”
Businesses can say helo to Blod on 03000 25 88 88 or by searching ‘helo blod’ today to use a little more Welsh in their business.
