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The Business Case for Languages
LN Cymru research shows that one company in five is losing business because of a lack of an international communication strategy.
You will benefit from developing a strategy, however simple, if for example you are:
- Selling to customers in overseas markets.
- Dealing with suppliers overseas.
- Part of a multinational organisation.
- Dealing with incoming goods from overseas.
- Responsible for multilingual and multicultural teams.
CILT’s Solvit website, designed to help SMEs, introduces your business to the concept of an international communication plan, and shows other resources available to support you in formulating a plan to the benefit of your business.
Supported by CILT, the National Centre for Languages and its Regional and Language Networks, the BLIS Services suite offers you assistance to improve your international communications skills with:
- BLIS Professionals – database of international communication experts, comprising providers of translation, interpreting, language training and cultural briefing services
- BLIS Jobs – the job site for people with languages
- BLIS Courses – database of language courses across the UK, supported by learndirect
- BLIS Facilities – directory of business language support services
How To Guides are aimed at private and public sector employers alike, and address all aspects of international communications. Concise and punchy, they give you tips, advice and examples of how businesses like yours have succeeded by using language and cultural skills and services.
The Export Communications Review is a service offered by the British Chambers of Commerce on behalf of Wales Trade International. The review involves an in-depth discussion with a communications consultant, who will then prepare a report, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of current communications, considering written, verbal, personal, promotional and electronic interactions. The report will include practical recommendations to help you communicate more effectively and suggest those organisations or companies who can provide the solutions. An indication of costs and whether financial assistance is available will enable you to draw up outline budgets.
In the meantime, our collagues in the West Country have produced a series of country specific guides which you can access here.
Cultural briefing guides are available offering practical advice for those wishing to conduct business in other countries and are an excellent basic introduction to each country – more will be added throughout the year.
Click on the links below to download a pdf briefing which will give you a quick synopsis on the language and culture of your chosen country.
Finally, there are a number of case studies from local and UK wide companies to further encourage you.
Click here for advice on using professional linguists for your translation work.
