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The Language Skills Alliance

Building on the results of the Languages Plan, CILT, the National Centre for Languages and GoSkills, supported by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), formed a strategic partnership for the cross-sector skills of languages and intercultural skills.

CILT and GoSkills, through the Language Skills Alliance, are working with the Skills for Business Network (SfBN) to ensure that business and employers in all sectors across the UK have access to the competitive advantage offered by language and intercultural skills.

The strategic objectives of the Language Skills Alliance were:

• To ensure that languages are embedded in all relevant SfBN activities (including Sector Skills Agreements, Sector Qualification Strategies and 14-19 developments)
• To develop and test tools for making the business case for languages within the SfBN, for employers and for key Skills Alliance partners and stakeholders
• To ensure that business and employers have access to information and tools to aid the development of language skills and thereby competitive advantage
• To promote awareness of the business benefits and competitive advantages of language skills both inside the SfBN and also to employers
• To evaluate the entire programme's processes and products to inform future action in this field

Recent activity includes:

• Work with Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) on integrating languages into specialised diplomas
• Collaboration between CILT's (Regional) Language Networks and SSC regional advisers in all twelve English regions, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Piloting the integration of languages into vocational courses and qualifications
• Dissemination of products and tools to help SSCs in identifying language skills gaps and shortages
• Sharing of good practice in languages and intercultural skills through case studies, events and publications
• Working with SSCs on the cross-cutting themes of employability, management and leadership and migrant workers
• Piloting intercultural training modules for managers and supervisors
• Publication of a brochure describing the work of the Language Skills Alliance

 

CILT, the National Centre for Languages intends to continue to work on these topics with the Alliance for Sector Skills Councils.

For more information, or to receive a copy of our brochure outlining the project and case studies in more detail, contact Anne Marie Graham in the Skills Business and Adult Learning team.