I am a Polish aspiring entrepreneur planning to establish a translation business specialising in Polish–Spanish and Spanish–Polish services, with a focus on legal and sworn translation for clients in Poland and abroad.
During the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs exchange, I worked with my Host Entrepreneur, Anna Starzec, an experienced translator based in Spain. We combined practical translation work with business development, client communication, marketing and modern CAT and AI tools.
I discovered EYE online and joined the programme to gain first-hand experience of running a translation business in another European market. I expected to develop my professional and entrepreneurial skills, better understand the Spanish market, learn about client management and workflows, build an international network to further develop my business.
During my EYE stay, I worked closely with my Host Entrepreneur, Anna Starzec, on various translation and business-related activities. I participated in general, technical and business translation projects and received regular feedback on my work. We worked with CAT and OCR tools, developed terminology resources and discussed the use of AI in translation.
We also worked on legal and sworn translation, comparing Polish and Spanish practices and analysing relevant professional requirements. Another part of the exchange focused on interpreting, including consecutive, simultaneous and remote interpreting solutions.
Together, we discussed pricing, workflow organisation, client communication and differences between the Polish and Spanish translation markets. I also supported marketing activities, particularly social media and online visibility. Our relationship was based on close cooperation, knowledge exchange and regular feedback, with both of us contributing our skills and experience.
The exchange helped me strengthen my translation and interpreting skills, particularly in specialised and legal translation, and improve my ability to use professional tools and manage translation workflows. I gained a better understanding of the Spanish translation market and the practical aspects of running a translation business, including pricing, client communication and organisation.
The exchange also helped me further develop my business concept and gave me a clearer basis for establishing my own translation business in Poland. I expanded my international professional network and established valuable contacts with potential for future cooperation. The knowledge and experience gained during the exchange also strengthened my ability to work with international clients and develop cross-border cooperation between Poland and Spain.
The EYE exchange was a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience, learn from an experienced translator and better understand the international translation market. It helped me develop both professionally and personally and gave me confidence in pursuing my business idea.