• Languages have existed since about 100,000 BC, and there are now around 6000 languages spoken in the world

• Only 6% of the world’s population speak English as a first language

• 75% of the world’s population don’t speak any English at all

Employers value language skills

• Research has shown that using language skills in business opens the door to a wide range of economic, social and personal benefits
• 74% of employers are looking to employ people with conversational language skills
• Customers addressed in their mother tongue are much more likely to do business with you
• Studying a foreign language improves your oral and written skills in English too, and also helps develop key communication skills that are crucial in the workplace

Language skills letting us down

• One in five exporting companies say they are losing trade because of language and cultural barriers
• UK exports are underperforming in Russia and Brazil, and are losing our to European competitors in China
• 49% of employers are disappointed with graduates’ foreign language skills

New languages in a globalised workplace

• Firms establishing business in growing economies have an increasing need for speakers of Mandarin, Cantonese and Russian
• 15% of employers are looking for people familiar with the Arabic language and culture
• Many firms wanting to develop a commercial presence in Brazil need Portuguese speakers
• Whilst French and German are still the most sought-after languages, Spanish is increasingly valued by firms trading with Spain and Latin America