This post is a heads-up about the Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) Setting Up as a Freelance Translator (SUFT) course that starts on 11 September. If you’re an aspiring translator and are setting up your own business, this course is right up your street. Why am I mentioning SUFT on my blog? Because I’m joining the course as a tutor!

In addition to the hard skills – subject matter expertise, source language proficiency and target writing style – that are inherent to translation, business savvy is also essential for freelance translators. You need to find work, use the right tools, meet deadlines, issue invoices and get paid on time. That’s where the SUFT course comes in.

Over two months, eight tutors – all practising freelance translators – will be giving practical advice on the soft skills you need to thrive as a business owner. Check out the link at the top of this post for details about the course structure and content, dates, times and prices (for ITI members and non-members).

I’m delighted to be joining the other tutors, all of whom have taught their modules in previous editions and some since SUFT started, back in 2014. I’m taking over the Working from Home module from the previous tutor, Helen Oclee-Brown, who gave me an excellent handover in terms of presentation and content. This part of the course covers a host of subjects that are close to my heart, including ergonomic workstations, data protection, bookkeeping and CAT tools. The webinar, assignments and two-hour Q&A session should give you ample time to get to grips with the nuts and bolts of working from home.

If you’ve just finished uni or are coming into translation from another field, the ITI Setting Up as a Freelance Translator course may be just what you need to get your business off the ground. And, according to this tweet, if you sign up before 17 August, you’ll get a free copy of 101 Things a Translator Needs to Know.

See you there?