Business briefs: Global Voices expand into Switzerland | Omega Diagnostics

TRANSLATION firm Global Voices has unveiled plans to open an office in Switzerland and recruit six staff at its Stirling head office after a surge in demand from the life sciences sector and the NHS.

The firm – which has offices in Denmark, France, Germany and Italy – supplies 3,000 freelance linguists to companies and public sector bodies to act as translators. Turnover in the year to 30 June jumped to £1.1 million from £720,000 and is expected to double in the current financial year, the company revealed. Profits rose to £228,404 from £140,758.

Gurnerf ups his stake in Omega

MEDICAL testing kit maker Omega Diagnostics yesterday announced that former chairman and chief executive Michael Gurner had increased his stake in the company.

Gurner, who led Omega on to the Alternative Investment Market in 2006, is now a

non-executive director at the firm. He bought 25,000 shares at 16p each, taking his holding up to 271,671 shares.

News of the purchase comes after chief executive Andrew Shepherd’s wife last week bought 600,000 shares at 16.5p, taking the couple’s holding to more than 2.6 million shares.