Language service helps pull UK out of recession

March 12, 2009 - PRLog -- A new telephone interpreting service could help the UK export industry to pull the country out of recession by enabling to staff to bridge the language barrier with foreign companies.
Following reports that only 10% of workers in the UK can speak a second language, Thames Translations, the UK’s longest standing translation company, has launched a new telephone interpreting service to help businesses who deal with foreign partners or suppliers to improve communication and customer relations and increase chances of securing foreign business.

“Exports are good because the pound is low and language ability can help companies to capitalise on an advantageous position,” says Simon George, MD of Thames Translations. “Commonly only found in the public sector, telephone interpreting services has gone relatively unnoticed in the private sector, despite its cost advantages and can give UK-based business the competitive advantage, which could make the difference between winning or losing new business.”

A survey by the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission claims that 11% of businesses surveyed had lost business as a result of poor language skills, with lost contracts totalling to between 8 million and 13.5 million euros and George says:

“The UK is seriously lagging behind its EU counterparts when it comes to language ability and this is having a serious impact on probably the only industry which can bring the country out of recession. In other EU countries, over half of workers can speak two languages and almost a third can speak three. We need to match their willingness and reach out to them first if we really want to make an impression.”

“When dealing with foreign companies, there is often a requirement for translation – which focuses on the written word. This type of service can often be ordered in advance and therefore often isn’t time sensitive. However, in an increasingly pressurised industry, there is a growing requirement for instant translation of the spoken word in real time and this is known as language interpreting. It can prove most valuable when used in meetings and enables organisations to develop more personal relationships which could be crucial to winning and securing businesses in the current climate.”

“It is simply not practical to replace existing staff with multi-lingual staff as there are many other skills that are needed than just language skills. Telephone interpreting services can help solve the problem of language and enable UK staff to do the job they were employed to do, regardless of the home country of the supplier or partner.”