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Because English is not enough…
…for international trade
94% of the world’s population do not speak English as their first
language.
72% of British trade is with non-English speaking countries.
Research has established a clear link between the use of foreign languages
and better international trade performance:
· Internet users are three times more likely to buy when addressed
in their mother tongue (Forrester Research).
· Export sales of companies that most value languages and culture
are growing by on average £290,000 per company, per year (British
Chambers of Commerce survey).
· Export sales of companies that least value languages are declining
by £50,000 per company, per year (British
Chambers of Commerce survey).
· UK business leaders’ ability to negotiate in a second language
still lags behind their international counterparts, the Grant Thornton
International Business Owners Survey 2004 has revealed (Grant
Thornton IBOS survey).
Between 2001 and 2004 Language Skills Capacity Audits have been carried
out carried out in most regions of England, as well as Wales. They found
that companies are missing out on trade opportunities because they have
difficulty understanding foreign languages and cultures:
· One in five companies is losing business because they lack foreign
language skills.
· Two in five companies are aware of language barriers in the development
of their business.
· Only 10% of companies have a communications strategy for trading
with foreign-speaking businesses.
