Quality vs. Quantity in Translation

When I explain to non-linguists that I work in a translation company, the first question is often something like: So how many languages do you speak then?

Now, I am impressed with people who speak many languages. When I heard that Denis Healey, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer who hails from a village near the Alexika office, speaks 7 languages, he certainly rose in my estimation. But for professional translators, one 'source' language and one mother tongue is often quite sufficient.

What I want to know about potential translators for Alexika is that they have mastery of their mother tongue, an extremely high level of professional proficiency in the language that they translate from and also, critically, current knowledge of their chosen field so that they keep up to date with terminology. Then there are other factors such a professionalism, knowledge of translation tools etc etc...but the number of languages spoken is not part of that conversation. We have other colleagues who cover other language combinations.

But we are based in the UK. Is it just that British people are often impressed with any foreign language ability? Which brings me back to my regular theme of how important it is that children learn a second language in school up to and ideally beyond the age 16...