Cyfieithu Cyflym: Reshaping How We Deliver Bilingual Services

Doing things differently is at the heart of the Council's Reshaping Programme – finding smarter, more efficient ways of working that improve outcomes for both our organisation and the residents we serve.

One of the latest examples of that approach in action is Cyfieithu Cyflym - the Council's digital Welsh translation tool - which is helping us reduce costs, streamline processes and make it easier for colleagues across the organisation to communicate bilingually.

Developed through collaboration between the Transformation Team, our Welsh Language Officer, Digital Services and IT - Cyfieithu Cyflym demonstrates how innovation, partnership working and digital technology can support better public services while ensuring we continue to meet our Welsh Language Standards.

A Smarter Way of Working

The project began in summer 2024 with an ambitious task:

How could the Council use digital translation to reduce costs, improve customer experience and promote the Welsh language across the organisation?

Rather than just introducing a new technology straight off the bat, we redesigned the entire process around staff needs. 

Cyfieithu Cyflym brings the whole translation process together in one place, covering everything from staff skills and training, to translation and proofreading.

Staff who demonstrate appropriate Welsh language skills through the Council's Welsh Skills Assessment receive training before gaining access to the system. Every translation is still checked by colleagues with suitable Welsh language skills, ensuring quality remains at the heart of the process.

The result is a service that combines the speed and efficiency of digital technology with the expertise of our own workforce.

Elyn Hannah, the Council’s Welsh Language and Inclusion Officer, said: "When we first started looking at digital translation, my biggest concern was making sure we could use new technology without affecting the quality of our Welsh language services or statutory obligations. That meant working closely with colleagues and external partners to develop an approach that gave us confidence it would work in practice and meet the Welsh Language Standards.

“Cyfieithu Cyflym is about giving colleagues the right tools and support based on their own Welsh Language skills. By combining digital translation with the knowledge and expertise of colleagues, we've created a quicker and more efficient process that helps staff feel more confident communicating bilingually, while continuing to provide residents with high-quality Welsh language services."

Putting Residents First

Reshaping is about more than saving money, it's about delivering better services.

By making Welsh translation quicker and more accessible, Cyfieithu Cyflym helps colleagues produce bilingual communications more efficiently, supporting timely, high-quality information for Welsh-speaking residents while ensuring the Council continues to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.

Throughout the development of the project, the team worked closely with partners including Learn Welsh the Vale, Work Welsh and the Welsh Language Commissioner's Office to ensure the approach was both practical and fully compliant with Welsh Language Standards.

This collaborative approach helped shape everything from staff skills assessments to guidance on when digital translation should – and should not – be used.

Before its organisation-wide launch in April 2025, Cyfieithu Cyflym was trailed by colleagues in the Communications Team, helping to refine the system, test translation quality and ensure a smooth rollout.

The project has also embraced automation wherever possible. Parts of the process between the Welsh Skills Assessment and staff training have already been digitalised, with eligible colleagues now automatically directed to training when they declare fluent Welsh language skills. 

As the Council continues to deliver its Reshaping Programme, projects like Cyfieithu Cyflym show how collaboration, innovation and smarter use of technology can help us work more efficiently, make better use of resources and continue delivering high-quality services for the communities we serve.