Latest news

Latest report makes recommendations on a languages strategy for 2012
19/08/2008

How can language services enhance London and the rest of the UK's image for international visitors and provide a cultural, educational, economic and social legacy for London 2012? These are some of the questions addressed by the research report, 'Languages and International Events' funded by Routes into Languages. The report makes a number of recommendations for the Games, demonstrating the need for early planning to create a successful language strategy and world-class language provision.

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Consultation on Qualification Strategy for Languages, Intercultural Skills, Translation and Interpreting
24/07/2008

CILT, the National Centre for Languages has recently published a qualifications strategy to create a system for qualifications and training provision that is highly relevant for both its sub-sectors and cross-sector applications in each and every UK nation. It has been developed to address the issues that were highlighted by employers in the labour market research project carried out since November 2007.

The consultation on the Strategy is open until Tuesday 29 July 2008.

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New inspiration for businesses to champion language learning across London
09/07/2008

Regional Language Network London has launched a toolkit to share motivating activities and ideas and with businesses and schools who are interested in encouraging language learning. The 'Business Language Champions toolkit for businesses, schools and colleges' is the latest addition to a programme which highlights the value of language skills in the workplace for young people - and which has now been given the thumbs up by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband.

Read our press release

Queen's Award for Enterprise
24/06/2008

The application process for the Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2009 has started. The Queen's Award for Enterprise is recognised and respected as a mark of quality and success by businesses in the UK and overseas. To help you see whether you might like to enter your business for the award, UK Trade & Investment in partnership with the London Development Agency is holding a free evening seminar and networking event in conjunction with The Queen's Awards Office on Wednesday 16 July at The Inner Temple.

The event will offer an opportunity to hear from past winners about the application process and the commercial benefits of holding the Award. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the Awards Scheme from members of The Queen's Awards Office. Whether you can attend the event or not, the closing date for applications is 31 October 2008.

Find out more about the awards

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Enjoy a Capital Stay in London
11/06/2008

Hotels and B&Bs in London can now benefit from a new online package which gives practical advice on improving quality of service, making the most of the 2012 Games and tapping into new markets. The London Development Agency's (LDA) Capital Stay 'e-book' is part of its commitment to improving the quality of accommodation in the capital.

Available at www.lda.gov.uk/getgraded, Capital Stay is a one stop online package of advice, worksheets and video clips to help accommodation businesses in the capital stay a step ahead. It offers advice and useful tips including examples of language use on websites and in direct customer contact. You might like to learn more about our own Welcoming the World programme, which aims to help Londoners in frontline roles give great customer service to visitors.

Find out more about Capital Stay

Business Opportunities Plan for 2012 Games
11/06/2008

A major piece of work over the past year for Podium, the Further and Higher Education unit for the 2012 Games, has been to produce a 'Business Opportunities Plan', the formulation of which involved large numbers of people from both education sectors and a number of key stakeholders. Podium would like your view on the plan, to assess how it can be developed into fundable projects which support the Games.

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Magic numbers
11/06/2008

8 signifies abundance of wealth. 9 means forever. If you're considering doing business in China, it pays to consider the cultural significance of different numbers - for example when choosing a launch date or a brand name. An article posted by Jason Yu, a Los Angeles-based research analyst with six years' experience in the localisation industry, investigates the connotations for a variety of numbers in China .

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'Doing Business Abroad' - survey by Kwintessential
11/06/2008

Kwintessential's latest online survey asks the question:

"If you have worked abroad before, do you think cultural training would have helped?"

The cultural training business is trying to get a better understanding of people's views on the importance of cultural awareness training. Do people see and feel cultural differences when working abroad?

Take part in their survey

Mastering languages for business
11/06/2008

In emerging economies such as Russia , China and South America, English is not widely spoken and managers who can communicate with the local people in these countries will have an edge. So, should students learn a second language on their MBA programme so they can offer a well-rounded set of management skills?

At Cranfield School of Management, a working knowledge of a second language is compulsory for all MBA students. Sean Rickard, director of the full-time MBA programme, says, "We made it a requirement because we believe that in an increasingly global world we should encourage our students to communicate in at least one language other than their own."

Read the article in the Times

Win a language learning pack!
03/06/2008

CILT, the National Centre for Languages has teamed up with publishers Routledge to celebrate Adult Learners' Week and give away five 'Colloquial' language learning packs. You just need to answer a few questions... the closing date is 13 June.

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Call for papers: ITI International Conference 2009
23/05/2008

ITI will be holding an International Conference over the weekend of 16 and 17 May 2009 themed broadly around sustainability. If you would like to submit a paper on themes with or without a sustainability angle, contact the ITI. Please also contact the ITI if you wish to put forward a suitable topic for a poster session or conference workshop. Contributions are welcomed from ITI members and non-members. Favourable consideration will be given to responses received before 20 June 2008.

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Government consultation: 'Higher Education at Work - High Skills: High Value'
23/05/2008

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills published on 14 April their high level skills strategy 'Higher Education at Work - High Skills: High Value'. Through this they will consult employers, learners and higher education providers on what more we need to do to equip the workforce with the skills required for an innovative and competitive economy.

Languages are acknowledged as being of value - see section 5 - and the consultation asks 'What more can we do to provide more graduates with the language skills and cultural awareness to thrive in a global marketplace?' If you wish to respond, the deadline is 7 July 2008.

Find out more and respond

London is the number one choice for international students
23/05/2008

International students now account for 23% of the total London student population. There were 89,955 international students studying in London during 2006/07 according to the latest HESA statistics. This represents a 5% increase in the capital in the last academic year. London has more international students than both New York (65,885) and Sydney (37,515).

RLN London has highlighted how these students can bring their valuable language skills into the workplace on graduation in their 'World in one city' report

The Study London campaign aims to bring even more overseas students to London, attracting almost 100,000 students to its website this academic year.

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Oriental language challenge for French teacher
23/05/2008

At Deptford Green school in London, Tommy, a year 11 Vietnamese student, has been smarting over his identification in the press as a grade F candidate for a French GCSE this summer. He had said he would only work to improve his French if his teacher, who had boasted it was possible to learn a language in three months, took up Vietnamese.

Read the article in the Guardian

London opportunities abound for German companies ahead of 2012 games
23/05/2008

Think London, the foreign direct investment agency for London, in partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany, hosted a seminar in London to promote business opportunities for German companies around the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

'Maximising opportunities around the 2012 Games' was hosted at Think London's offices in Canary Wharf on 14th May. Brendan Dineen, Director, 2012 Games at Think London said, "Trade between the UK and Germany is the largest of all EU member countries and totals over $95 billion. Inward investment is also significant with over 3,000 German-owned companies operating in the UK creating over 400,000 jobs."

German language skills are widespread in London. Recent research by RLN London showed that according to Reed, the national recruitment agency, almost a third of fluent German speakers are London-based.

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London attracts more than 11 per cent of all Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Europe
20/04/2008

Think London , the foreign direct investment agency for London, has revealed inward Chinese FDI in London has doubled in the last 12 months. The rapid growth of the Chinese economy in recent years has seen many Chinese companies entering international markets, and London is reaping the rewards.

London brings in more FDI projects from China than any other location in Europe , approximately 11 per cent of all Chinese FDI projects to the continent.

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London emerges clear winner as 'European City Of The Future'
20/04/2008

London has swept the board and emerged as this year's number one European location in fDi magazine's 2008 Cities of the Future shortlist, published by the Financial Times. Cities and regions were asked to provide information in areas such as economic potential, volume and number of investment projects.

Mayor of London , Ken Livingstone said: " London is the international city of the world not only in terms of the business it conducts but also with more nationalities in the capital than any other place on the planet."

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