About

Why choose me?

In an emerging sector such as hydrogen and fuel cells, it can be difficult to find the language support you need to move into new markets. Communicating your ideas in another language not only requires linguistic skill but a high level of technical understanding to ensure concepts are not misinterpreted.

That’s where I come in. I’m Nicola Bottrell Hayward, a seasoned German and French to English translator specialising in all aspects of the hydrogen economy. I love being creative with words and am also able to quickly understand new and complex technologies. Thanks to certified training on hydrogen and the natural gas network from the Institution of Gas Engineers & Managers, not to mention countless hours of research and CPD, I can make sense of hydrogen in all its colours. Since 2019, I’ve been helping companies in this expanding field reach out to a global audience by rendering their texts into impeccable English. To get a taste of my writing, take a look at my article on hydrogen heating in the UK that was published in the trade journal H2-international.

So how did it all start?

A native English speaker, I grew up on the Isle of Wight watching international vessels ploughing the Channel. And perhaps that was the spark for my childhood passion for travel and foreign languages. This ultimately led to a degree in German and French followed by an MA in Translation (Distinction).

Since then, I have accumulated over a decade’s worth of experience working as a project manager, freelancer, in-house translator and proofreader in translation departments in Hamburg, Brussels and the UK. Plus, I picked up some valuable business experience in a high-tech electronics company along the way.

My interest in hydrogen and fuel cells grew naturally from my specialist translation work in smart homes, renewables and heating systems. For many years I have provided support to these sectors as both a freelance and in-house linguist and benefited from industrial training on gas boilers, heat pumps and biomass at the Viessmann Training Academy in Telford.

What this means for you:

Accurate translations by a mother tongue English speaker

Correct use of industry-specific terminology

Stylish texts that sell, not clunky machine translations

Consistent approach to technical and marketing materials