Language Matters was created in 1993, therefore this year we are celebrating our 30-year anniversary! There have been a lot of changes over the years including the technology used, the marketing and advertising methods, the fashion (see pictures below!) and the recruitment market in general, but for us the importance of building strong relationships with clients and candidates has remained the same.

We appreciate the huge support we have received from candidates and clients over the years, and the amazing employees, past and present, who have contributed to us to reaching this amazing milestone. 

Thank you for making our first 30 years such a success! We look forward to growing the team further in London and Amsterdam, working with new and existing clients and candidates, and delivering a quality service well into the future.

Languagematters  1993 – 2023

Timeline

1993

January 1993

Language Matters opened for business at Carrara House, Embankment, London WC2. With Robert House and Christine Proctor starting the business with Rowena House managing the accounts.  

1993

February 1993

First ever placements made, 4x in one day.  LM was really in business now.

1993

February 1993

Registered www.languagematters.co.uk and purchased first computers for our first tiny network

1993

August 1993

LM became corporate members of the Federation of the Recruitment and Employment Services and members of the Institute of Employment Consultants.  

1993

December 1993

Took on first employee – Debbie Plug – We expanded organically and ended the year with two new employees, including Alex Jessup who works for us still today.  

1994

September 1994

Attended first Recruitment Fair at Kensington Olympia

1995

January 1995

Redesigned our corporate logo and stationary and we launched a new website as the internet starts to impact how we all communicate

1996

March 1996

Became first language agency to achieve IIP (Investors in People) accreditation, evidencing our commitment to quality, training and development

1996

June 1996

Signed our first major partnership with the EMA (European Medicines Agency) who we still work with today

1998

June 1998

Expansion and relocation to our current address, 9 Irving Street

1998

September 1998

The online recruitment revolution arrives with the increase of online job boards. We embraced the freedom of instant advertising and response

2002

November 2002

A school leaver arrives at LM for a 2 week work placement helping out with admin.  Isabel, our Office Manager has just celebrated her 20 year anniversary with us.

2004

February 2004

EU increases its membership by 10, taking the number of member states up to 25 and making a huge impact within the language recruitment sector, increasing the diversity of languages recruited and the volumes of candidates available for work

2007

January 2007

The year of the data transfer.  No-one forgets the pain of introducing brand new IT systems but we were soon delighted with our investment in integrated front and back office IT systems including payroll.

2008

January 2008

The Great Recession sets in but LM quality shows through and business remains solid despite a global downturn which sees the demise and mergers of some of its largest and well known financial clients. We rise to the challenge but diversifying into new industry sectors.

2011

June 2011

Achieved newly introduced Silver Status, IIP, recognition of the continuous improvement and ongoing high standards of planning, development and training.

2011

October 2011

A Dutch temp of ours joins LM – Frank Etman, now one of our Directors

2012

January 2012

Covering the reception and straight out of University, Sam House joins, now also a Director

2016

June 2016

Referendum on the United Kingdom membership of the EU resulting in the UK decision to leave the EU – a big turning point for Language Matters

2017

July 2017

Proud to achieve Gold standard Investors in People

2018

August 2018

Office refurbishment takes place spanning 6 months

2019

March 2019

Long awaited international expansion and a foothold in the EU comes to fruition with the opening of new office in Amsterdam

2019

September 2019

Success in Amsterdam as LM beats stiff international competition to win the multi-million Euro EMA tender, following the EMA’s Brexit driven relocation from London

2020

January 2020

BREXIT – UK finally leaves the EU with enormous changes affecting the job market.  Candidate supply decreases and right to work restrictions severely limit volume of applications

2020

March 2020

COVID-19 hits the UK and lockdown is announced 6 days later – LM has days to react and enable employees to work from home for the first time ever.  With the rest of the recruitment sector, LM is challenged by plummeting vacancy and candidate volumes. – A new way of working; the first remote social, LM Zoom pub quiz.

2020

September 2020

LM buys out Covent Garden Bureau and opens Covent Garden Recruitment with  Gemma Stringer.

2022

December 2022

Christmas is a great time to get together and after many Covid enforced cancellations, it is fantastic to celebrate with the Amsterdam,  UK and CGR teams together.

2023

January 2023

Language Matters turns 30 years old!