At the invitation of the school’s Language Society, former pupil Nick Aitken recently spoke to current students on a career combining languages with top-level sport, including advice for perfecting their language skills and tips for finding [and keeping] a role in the fast-moving sporting sector.

Having started out on the World Football Desk at the Press Association in nearby Howden, Nick has since carried out a variety of functions - including translation, editing, match reporting and interpreting - for UEFA.com, FIFA.com, Sports Translations Ltd and She Kicks women’s football magazine.

Currently combining a UEFA Media Manager position with running a translation agency (@onubacomms) and a consultancy role with family company Aitken2 Ltd, specialists in helping innovative companies pursue R&D support, Nick talked about the importance of language learning, making connections and being ready to tackle bumps in the road. 

Among the questions the students asked Nick were his advice on practising their languages outside of school, his memories of Hymers and whether he’d ever made an embarrassing translation mistake at a high-profile event!

Thanks to everyone involved for their time and we look forward to welcoming Nick back soon.