A US language service provider has moved one of its UK centres of excellence to Chester.

Welocalize, has moved into Steam Mill Business Centre offices in Boughton.

According to independent research the firm ranks as the fourth largest language service provider in the US and ninth largest provider in the world.

One of the reasons for the move to Chester is to further develop a closer relationship with the university.

Over the past three years, Welocalize has steadily built a successful intern program, recruiting students and graduates from the Chester Business Master’s programme.

Lauren Southers was Welocalize’s first UK intern Based in the new Chester office, she now works as a manager on the Welocalize global marketing and sales operations team.

She said: “It can be a tough, challenging and competitive environment for young people just starting out on their careers and internships are a good way to gain real commercial experience.

General manager UK and VP Europe at Welocalize Garry Levitt said: “Welocalize is constantly investing in talent and innovation to enable company growth and so we can continue to meet client’s multilingual needs for all content types in markets all over the world.

“By relocating one of our main UK operations to the Steam Mill offices in Chester, we will forge closer working relationships with the local community, companies and academic institutions.”

Front row: Emma Cox & Lauren Southers and the new interns who are due to start in September

Executive dean of Chester Business School Professor Ruth Ashford said: “We are delighted that Welocalize has been working with the University of Chester to place our Chester Business Master’s students in prestigious internships over the years.

“Their connections are outstanding and our students have benefitted enormously.”

Programme director of the Chester Business Master’s Professor Danny Moss said: “Welocalize is one of the founding internship providers for graduates studying on the work-based Chester Business Master’s programme.

“The company has provided our students with excellent experience of working for a globally-based company and a number of the graduates have gone on to secure full time employment with the company, which is testament to the success of our relationship with the Welocalize and the internship scheme.”