Member Article

A-Level languages decline damaging UK business’ ability to compete globally

The language skills gap in the UK shows no signs of decreasing following the lowest numbers of students taking foreign language A-Levels in years. Results season may be over but the long-term effects of this aversion to languages in education will continue to be felt by businesses across the UK for the foreseeable future. As A-Level students received their results, UK businesses will have been looking on to see if the next generation of workers will remain monolingual or if they will become the multilingual, versatile staff that UK businesses are so desperate for.

Unfortunately, the results would suggest not. This year French and German suffered a 10 and 11 per cent drop in pupils studying the languages respectively, contributing to a near fifty per cent drop over the last ten years. Furthermore, less traditionally studied languages such as Mandarin, Arabic and Italian also dropped this year.

This dramatic decline has prompted examination boards to launch a six month enquiry into foreign language learning in the UK with some blaming the decision by Labour to make languages optional for 14-year-olds in England in 2004. Whatever the cause, the enquiry highlights the increasing attention being given to the importance of foreign language skills in the UK economy, and the serious dangers that our current language skills deficit is leaving UK businesses, and the economy as a whole, open to.

The UK has long existed as a knowledge-driven economy and language is an essential skill that we need to thrive amongst fierce global competition.

The current gaps in language skills could take years to fill and UK businesses are already suffering. Indeed, the PIMLICO study, which examined language management strategies and best practice in European SMEs reported that at least 20 – 25 per cent of surveyed SMEs in England and Wales expressed having lost a contract as a direct result of lacking language skills within their business.

English is no longer the only language in business. Whilst it is undoubtedly still the most popular, other languages are becoming more prevalent. This is unsurprising following the rise of other powerhouse and developing economies in Asia and Latin America. In short, “But everyone speaks English” is no longer a valid excuse for not learning the basics of the local language.

The most requested languages for workforce training in 2011 were Mandarin, French and German according to our Global Mobility Language Survey and when 75% of the world’s population does not speak English, language is an essential strategic business tool when looking abroad for growth and export potential.

You don’t have to be fluent in multiple languages, but the basics are absolutely enough to foster trust with customers and partners, helping to forge stronger relationships and delivering a competitive advantage. Let’s face it, while our world is getting smaller by being more closely connected to other countries and people through better technologies and a dense global transport network – how can you foster true understanding without the local language?

The language skills gap in UK business has been a concern for years, but the recent A-Level results are a reminder than unless more emphasis is placed on foreign language learning in education, the next generation of workers will not consider it a priority. Bringing about such a dramatic shift in the attitude to language won’t be easy, and it would require the Government to come out and be bold enough to invest in the long-term future with long-term and transformational policies.

Without this commitment, it’s our economy that will suffer.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Donavan Whyte .