PRESS RELEASES
January 2008 – Firms are losing business because workers aren’t bilingual
December 2007 – Teach Yourself Business Japanese and Mandarin Chinese forthcoming publication
October 2007 – Teach Yourself Business Japanese prior to visit to Japan
September 2007 – Teach Yourself Business French and Spanish publication
PRESS RELEASE
January 2008
FIRMS ARE LOSING BUSINESS BECAUSE WORKERS AREN’T BILINGUAL
One quarter of companies have lost out on business because staff can’t speak a foreign language
28% of employers would be willing to pay staff more if they had language skills
25% of medium-sized companies would benefit from more foreign language speakers
One quarter of UK companies (26%) have lost out on business because their staff cannot speak a foreign language, according to research released today by teach yourself, publishers of the teach yourself Business Languages Series.
The independent research conducted by Gfk NOP* reveals that insufficient language skills in the workplace has meant that 17% of companies have not been able to pitch for business globally. The survey of over 500 UK companies also found that 10% of companies incurred costs having documents translated.
Sarah Carroll, author of teach yourself Business Spanish and teach yourself Business French, says: “Globalisation has prompted the demand for foreign language speakers in the UK. As companies begin to operate more within the international community, they must ensure they hire staff with good language skills. It’s encouraging that some companies are beginning to recognise this demand and that they are prepared to offer foreign language speakers a premium salary.”
One in four medium-sized businesses felt that their company would benefit from more foreign language speakers and 25% would actively hire a candidate who could speak a second language over one that couldn’t. Medium-sized companies are also willing to offer bilingual employees extra incentives, 28% say they would consider paying staff with good language skills a higher salary.
By business sector companies in the Manufacturing (16%) and Catering and Leisure sectors (16%) are most in need of workers with foreign language skills. Nearly a quarter of Manufacturing sector employers would actively hire a candidate who could speak a second language over one who couldn’t and 21% would offer staff extra incentives if they had foreign language skills.
Sarah continues: “China is one of the fastest growing global markets and the demand for UK Mandarin Chinese speakers is increasing. Mandarin Chinese is quickly becoming the most useful languages to know in business and Spanish may well end up rivaling English as a global business language in the Americas by 2050. Businesses need to be aware of this and invest in foreign language speakers so they are able to compete in the global market.”
Employees can also benefit by having language skills as 18% of all companies’ surveyed say that they would be willing to pay those with language skills a premium salary.
teach yourself Business Mandarin Chinese and teach yourself Business Japanese both also by Sarah Carroll, are due to publish during spring and summer 2008.
For a specific press release please contact: Naomi.webb@hodder.co.uk
For all media enquiries and images please contact Laura Harvey or Stephanie O’Grady:
phone: 0208 870 6777 or email: laurah@saltlondon.com, stephanie@saltlondon.com
* The research was conducted in December 2007 by GFK NOP on behalf of teach yourself and Hodder Education who surveyed 500 UK employers.
PRESS RELEASE
December 2007
teach yourself business japanese and teach yourself business mandarin chinese
Publication date April 2008
Both priced £35
Afraid of committing international business blunders?
Find it hard understanding your international colleagues?
Want to win more business overseas?
Then teach yourself business languages are the courses for you!
These all-audio business language courses will help you acquire an essential up to date business language. You can use the courses any time anywhere, as a refresher before travelling to that essential meeting or to dip into in the office.
Building relationships, marketing, selling, project management and technology are some of the wide range of topics covered in the three all-audio CDs. The 128-page supplementary booklet contains a transcript of the audio and a glossary.
An accompanying culture book contains examples of how business documents are set out as well as tips on etiquette and business culture so you will never be stuck for something to talk about or worry about committing blunders.
About the Author and Contributors
Sarah Carroll has lived and worked internationally. She has worked for global management consultancies and now runs Grow Global and www.languageadvantage.com.
teach yourself business japanese
Kiyoko Naish has worked for a US global investment bank in Japan and across the world. She now runs QI Concepts Limited www.qiconcepts.co.uk.
teach yourself business mandarin chinese
Qiufu Wang is a corporate language trainer in English and Mandarin and now runs Two Rivers One World promoting bi-lateral trade between the UK and China.
The first teach yourself book was published in 1938. Over the last 69 years, more than 50 million people have learnt over 750 subjects.
For further information and to arrange a competition contact:
Naomi Webb at Hodder Education on 020 7873 6354 or naomi.webb@hodder.co.uk
PRESS RELEASE
October 2007
teach yourself business japanese and teach yourself business mandarin chinese
Publication date April 2008
Priced £35
Afraid of committing international business blunders?
Find it hard understanding your Japanese colleagues?
Want to win more business in Japan?
Then teach yourself business Japanese is the course for you!
These all-audio business language course will help you acquire an essential up to date business language. You can use the courses any time anywhere, as a refresher before travelling to that essential meeting or to dip into in the office.
Building relationships, marketing, selling, project management and technology are some of the wide range of topics covered in the three all-audio CDs. The audio brings you realistic business conversations as well as authentic business articles from DREAM GATE, a Japanese website for entrepreneurs. The 128-page supplementary booklet contains a transcript of the audio and a glossary.
An accompanying culture book contains examples of how Japanese business documents are set out as well as tips on Japanese etiquette and business culture so you will never be stuck for something to talk about or worry about committing blunders.
About the Authors
Sarah Carroll has lived and worked internationally. She has worked for global management consultancies and now runs Grow Global and www.languageadvantage.com.
teach yourself business japanese
Kiyoko Naish has worked for a US global investment bank in Japan and across the world. She now runs QI Concepts Limited www.qiconcepts.co.uk.
Other titles by Sarah Carroll include Teach Yourself Business French, Teach Yourself Business Spanish and Teach Yourself Business Mandarin.
The first teach yourself book was published in 1938. Over the last 69 years, more than 50 million people have learnt over 750 subjects.
For further information and to arrange a competition contact:
Naomi Webb at Hodder Education on 020 7873 6354 or naomi.webb@hodder.co.uk
PRESS RELEASE
September 2007
teach yourself business french and teach yourself business spanish
Publication date 28th September 2007
Both priced £35
Afraid of committing international business blunders?
Find it hard understanding your international colleagues?
Want to win more business overseas?
Then teach yourself business languages are the courses for you!
These all-audio business language courses will help you acquire an essential up to date business language. You can use the courses any time anywhere, as a refresher before travelling to that essential meeting or to dip into in the office.
Building relationships, introducing yourself, negotiating contracts and holding a meeting are the wide range of topics covered in the three all-audio CDs. The 128 page supplementary booklet contains examples of how business documents are set out, so you can be sure that you can spell and read the language as well as speak it.
An accompanying culture book contains examples of how business documents are set out as well as tips on etiquette and business culture so you will never be stuck for something to talk about or worry about committing blunders.
About the Author and Contributors
Sarah Carroll has lived and worked internationally. She has worked for global management consultancies and now runs Grow Global and www.languageadvantage.com.
teach yourself business french
Emmanuel Lainé was born in France and has worked in the UK, in sectors from technology to finance. He is now studying for a PhD at Imperial College, London.
teach yourself business spanish
Andrea Loaiza Palacio was born in Colombia. She is a qualified Business Spanish trainer in London and has business experience as a retail manager in South America.
The first teach yourself book was published in 1938. Over the last 69 years, more than 50 million people have learnt over 750 subjects.
For further information and to arrange a competition contact:
Naomi Webb at Hodder Education on 020 7873 6354 or naomi.webb@hodder.co.uk