About
Laura Morley, the founder of Your French Matters
I have always been a Francophile and
moved out to France with my family in 2002. We began our adventure
in Chalais, the Charente area of France but relocated to the Charente
Maritime and the coast in 2006.
In the UK, I was a primary school teacher
but always had a great love and appreciation for the French Language
and culture and dreamed of one day living here.
Upon deciding to move to France, I studied
and gained a diploma with honors to ‘Teach English as a Foreign
Language’ (TEFL) and then went on to gain recognition as a Certified
Translator (Traductrice assermentée) via the Cours d’appel
in Poitiers.
Initially, I started giving language
lessons to French and English, as well as volunteering at local primary
schools , but also had my own retail enterprise which became a fantastic
way to meet people, integrate into the community and start our lives
in France.
Deciding to move to Royan in 2006, I
continued to teach but then was also lucky to gain a position within
a Chartered Accountancy firm as head of the foreign department, completing
over 200 income tax declarations annually and dealing with all administrative
issues encountered by the UK & foreign expatriate in France. I
also dealt with small business registration, social (health &
retirement) charges & local taxes (Foncière & Habitation)
for the British but also the French clientèle.
This work led to the idea of setting
up a business that offered a global service to British & Foreign
people relocating to France from another country, in the hope of alleviating
the stress of relocation, to suppress the language barrier & ultimately
help people ‘set up’ and begin their new life in France
as seamlessly as possible.
With the Internet and numerous means
of communicating, I currently work primarily from the UK based in
Derby to support my children’s further educational development
and progression & have a portfolio of over 250 clients from not
only all of France but also further afield including the United States,
Thailand & Switzerland to name a few. I deal with any issue ranging
from making doctor’s appointments, to planning permission, tax
returns, business set up, social issues, translations – the
list is endless.
Having my translation skills recognized
has also allowed me to include certified translations to the list
of services offered. I have completed work for Notaires, Avocat’s,
Health organizations (RSI, CPAM, La Ram & la CAF), represented
clients in Court, and at Notarial offices’ for house signings
& helping with the process to become a French National amongst
many other diverse requests.
To coin a phrase ‘no
job is too small’.
The advantage I have over large business’
is that I am a British national so understand the UK system and the
British expectations & cultural differences etc. but having lived
in France for many years and bringing up 3 children, I have also experienced
all of the issues that people will undoubtedly come across in France
& gained a great insight into how the French system works and
the idiosyncrasies that are very difficult to understand and get used
to.
So please don’t
stress or worry unnecessarily – call me and I will be able to
help. :-
Your French Matters
Contact


