Press Release

Vocational language learning needs boost from employers

29 November 2005

CILT, the National Centre for Languages is calling for UK employers to encourage students to include languages in their skills portfolio, by playing a greater part in ensuring languages are integrated into the vocational curriculum.

CILT’s Director Isabella Moore said:

‘Earlier this year Sir Digby Jones rightly highlighted the importance of languages to the UK’s future competitiveness in international markets. I hope that today’s CBI conference theme of the Future of Europe will give business cause for reflection on how it can help drive the campaign to improve the language skills of the UK workforce.

‘Languages for 14-19-year-olds are at a critical juncture and these young people need concrete examples of the practical advantages of language skills in their future careers. Greater provision needs to be made for languages in vocational training, with business driving demand through the expectation of equal skills sets from UK nationals and their European counterparts.

‘Over the past two years the 14-19 Black Country Pathfinder has been working with schools, further education, training providers and employers to develop workable vocational models for language post-14. I hope that these models, to be showcased at the Talking more business conference on Thursday (1 December) will encourage more employers to work with the education sector to improve prospects for the workforce of tomorrow.

‘Research to be published next month highlights British companies’ complacency towards languages skills compared to attitudes in France and Germany. Employers need to develop business strategies which incorporate a policy on the recruitment and development of staff with language skills if they are to remain competitive.’