We recently wrote an article which was featured in Changeboard discussing the lack of UK nationals with the necessary linguistic skills to fill the amount of roles available, why this is the case and importantly what the implications are for the future.
To view the article in full click here but we have also put some of the key issues below:
- The UK has become increasingly tied into one worldwide system and there is more demand for business professionals across the globe. As a result professionals need to be equipped with foreign langauge skills but also a cultural awareness of different markets.
- The rapid growth of many foreign economies and markets, especially in Asia has seen an increase in demand for languages like Russian, Mandarin and Cantonese.
- Having an understanding of the local languages of your customers base gives tremendous advantages in day-to-day business meetings, negotiations and in building relationships with clients.
- Languages also allow valuable insight into emerging markets, having people on your team who are multilingual can offer useful marketing and business development skills.
- More effort needs to be made to encourage language learning in schools – only 75% of the highest achievers take a language at GCSE. If this does not increase, the pipeline of linguistic talent will continue to shrink.
- There is a perception that the only roles available to linguistically skilled candidates is either as a teacher or an interpreter – this just isn’t the case!
- A survey we carried out revealed that 86% of employers viewed languages as an important skill and the majority believed that in the future those who are not multilingual will struggle in the employment market.
We hope you enjoy reading the full article!
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