Business and Employment

Introduction | Skills for Business Network | Employers | Service Providers | Business Language Champions | Case Studies | Newsletter | Annual Conference | FAQs

Languages: the economic case

 


We must embrace the world and speak its language if we want to be in pole position for business. Sir Digby Jones, former Director General, CBI

Research conducted in the UK and internationally shows that development and use of language skills in business opens the door to a wide range of economic, social and personal benefits. Conversely, the failure to recognise and address language and cultural barriers means that:

  • UK companies are losing business and falling behind in the exploration of new markets; and
  • UK nationals are disadvantaged on the international jobs market.

In this increasingly globalised economy, UK businesses can no longer afford to rely on English as the international lingua franca. Being able to communicate effectively with our customers, colleagues and business partners is critical to competitiveness and social cohesion.

CILT, the National Centre for Languages is engaged in a range of research activities to identify and highlight the impact of language skills on the UK economy.

A summary of recent research, Talking World Class: The impact of language skills on the UK economy, can be downloaded as a pdf document here (pdf, 5MB). Alternatively, download the key findings as a PowerPoint presentation (ppt, 3MB).

If you would like to order a hard copy of the Talking World Class booklet, contact CILT publications.