It is a common stereotype that British people cannot get the grasp of languages. In British schools science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects are at the forefront of initiatives to encourage a wider uptake. This is despite the percentage of pupils taking modern foreign language decreasing year on year.

As the world continues to globalise, language is becoming a feature increasingly integral to the business environment. Given the ever-growing interest in business as both academic subject and vocational choice it seems impossible that the value of language as an asset of business is yet to be recognised by potential employees.

Recent research findings published by specialist translation and localisation agency Conversis suggests that one in four British companies have been denied international business opportunities due to lack of foreign language skills amongst employees. But perhaps this finding is unsurprising, given that almost a third of companies surveyed admitted employment vacancies proved difficult to fill due to the plethora of applicants unskilled in world languages.

Gary Muddyman, CEO of Conversis, says, “On the one hand, graduates are generally struggling to find employment, and on the other hand, UK companies seeking graduates with specific skills like those we have been researching have to look abroad to staff their organisations. For some reason, learning foreign languages does not appear to be a priority amongst young people and this disinterest may be costing them job opportunities that they would otherwise have had."

Employment opportunities are not just restricted from specifically a linguistic perspective, however, and access to language education also fosters wider cultural understanding.

Given our increasingly multicultural British society as well as ever-expanding links to overseas business partners, employers are benefitting from employees grounded in cultural differences and traditions. Findings by Conversis indicate that two-thirds of senior directors in British business are concerned that their employee’s skill base does not extend widely enough to encompass cultural awareness. Furthermore, many at a management level describe how a global mindset can foster communication and thus support business growth.

Appreciation of different approaches to the business sector is becoming as important a trait as financial acumen or customer focus.

With almost 75% of respondents to the Conversis research confirming that international skills, whether through language education or experience, are actively looked for in potential applicants, the business world is becoming acutely aware of the pitfalls a narrow-focused education can have.