The Welsh Language Commissioner has celebrated 15 years since the launch of the orange speech bubble badge, used to show if a person can speak Welsh.

The scheme has gone from strength to strength with an average of 54,494 badges, lanyards and posters distributed annually.

Since 2005, the bubble has been used in a variety of creative ways, including on engineers' helmets, magnets on the back of patients' beds in hospitals, glitter tattoos during Eisteddfod week, and now, as a background filter on Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings.

The badge was first launched in Leekes store, in Cross Hands, and fifteen years on, they are still using the orange speech bubble.

Leekes Managing Director, Emma Leeke said: “We were delighted 15 years ago to be chosen as the launch site to promote the speaking of Welsh within our stores. As a proud Welsh business with close links to our community, our team enthusiastically support the use of the Welsh language in everyday life and are pleased to speak in Welsh with those for whom it is the first language and also to support Welsh learners.”

The bubble was part of a campaign called 'Iaith Gwaith' to encourage businesses to use more Welsh.

Aled Roberts, the Welsh language commissioner, said: "We are extremely proud of the ‘Iaith Gwaith’ orange bubble scheme – a practical scheme that gives people a clear indication that a Welsh language service is available.

"Iaith Gwaith is well established in Wales, and is an useful resource for organisations, businesses and charities to show customers that staff are able to speak Welsh.

"However, we recognise that circumstances have changed recently, and that badges and lanyards aren’t as relevant at the moment, with the majority of people working from home, or wearing overalls over their normal work clothes.

"We are therefore delighted to have developed the background for virtual meetings, which includes using the badge as a method to identify Welsh speakers over the screen."

Iaith Gwaith resources are available free of charge to organisations, businesses and charities from the Welsh Language Commissioner. Goods can be ordered from the Commissioner's website – welshlanguagecommissioner.wales/iaithgwaith or by calling 0345 6033 221.