As CILT, the National Centre for languages launches its new agenda for languages this week, its Chief Executive is calling for government agencies and employers to do more to recognise the vital importance of languages to help lift the UK out of the global recession.

The New Agenda for Languages includes calls for opportunities for everyone to develop their language learning, whatever their skills and abilities; for the UK workforce to be equipped to compete for jobs with language skills; and improved language skills nationwide as part of the legacy from London 2012.

Kathryn Board, Chief Executive of CILT said: ‘English is one of the great global languages of the 21st century but it will only take us so far. Our engagement with the non-English speaking world will remain superficial and one-sided unless we develop our capacity in other languages. In this precarious economic climate, we need to make Britain strong in the global economy.”

Figures from the Cardiff business school show that improving language skills could add up to 21 billion pounds a year to the UK economy while export businesses that use language skills and the cultural knowledge that goes with them, achieve on average 45% more sales.

“We need to break the vicious circle of poor language skills which leads to unsatisfactory export performance so that British enterprise can compete and flourish,” said Ms Board. “We want to see more employers valuing languages as a key business skill.  This is vital for our economic future in an increasingly competitive global market and to ensure that Britain develops strong, successful and tolerant citizens. We want commitment from all government departments – not just the DCSF – to recognise the importance of languages to Britain’s future.”
 
Ms Board makes her plea on the eve of the ten year anniversary of the Nuffield Inquiry final report, which examined the state of languages in the UK.

The Nuffield report, chaired by broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald, found that young people from the UK were at a disadvantage in the recruitment market. The report also highlighted a lack of motivation amongst teenagers, who found languages “irrelevant,” and a need for pupils to learn languages from an earlier age.

Kathryn Board argues that these messages still hold true ten years on: ‘With the global recession, it is more important than ever that our young people should have the skills they need to compete in the global recruitment market. If they neglect to develop their language skills, employers may recruit from abroad. More employers are recognising the importance of languages – the latest CBI skills survey showed that 74% of UK employers are looking for conversational language skills – but they need to communicate that need to young people.’

‘We are already providing support to primary and secondary schools in particular to develop language learning and to motivate pupils. We believe that with the full support of employers and government departments to help raise awareness of the importance of languages amongst young people, we can hope to see the tide turning for languages in the years ahead.’