Facts, figures and reports
RLN London often receives enquiries about language and cultural skills
at work and in society generally, from businesses,
government agencies and others. We have collected
together key sources of information here for
you under a range of headings. For facts and
figures at a glance, try our Multilingual
London digest.
Click on the headings below to view and hide the articles in turn.
Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment (European Commission, September 2008)
This Communication by the EU sets out to respond to the challenges
posed by the reality of a multilingual European community. It explores
issues such as the role of languages in developing mutual understanding
in a multicultural society, and how language skills improve employability
and ensure a competitive edge for European businesses.
Download
the report (PDF 79KB) 
CBI London survey December
2006
The fourth London Business Survey by CBI London highlights for the
first time that foreign language skills are a key factor in business
success - with 94% of employers believing that these skills are important
for the London economy.
Read
the press release (PDF, 79 KB)
Costing Babel : the Contribution of
Language Skills to Exporting and Productivity in the UK
This economic analysis of language skills by the Welsh Institute for
Research in Economics and Development offers
evidence that British firms are restricting
their horizons through a lack of foreign language
investment.
Find
out more
Graduate Skills and Recruitment
in the City (2006)
This report commissioned
jointly by the City of London Corporation and
the Financial Services Skills Council, examines
the relationship between Financial Services
employers operating from the City of London
and the UK's universities. Employers are concerned
that UK graduates do not compare favourably
with their international counterparts in terms
of language skills, international experience
and cross-cultural awareness.
Read
the report (PDF, 1.2MB)
Languages mean business: Recommendations
from the Business Forum for Multilingualism
Europe should put in place far-sighted policies that turn linguistic
diversity into an asset for prosperity; languages
can be used as a competitive advantage for
European business. These are the key messages
in the 2008 report by the European Commission's
Business Forum.
Download
the report
Find
out about the Forum
CBI/Edexcel Education and Skills Survey
2008
This inaugural survey provides a comprehensive analysis of businesses’
concerns and priorities as regards education
and skills - and shows that languages are
highly prized - with half (48%) of firms currently
recruiting some people specifically for their
foreign language skills.
Read
the summary (34KB)
Download
the report (PDF 1.94MB)
Talking World
Class: the impact of language skills on the London economy
A report produced by RLN London in July 2006, that explains why the
capital needs to make the most of language
skills and identifies what further
support is required for London to realise its
future economic potential.
Find
out more
Talking Sense: A research study of language skills management in
major companies
This 2005 report by CILT explores the belief of many UK businesses
that they are as prepared as their European
counterparts to meet the challenge of international
communication - despite a continued over-reliance
on English according to the latest research.
Download
the executive summary (81KB, PDF)
Download
the full report (830KB, PDF)
Language and culture in British business: Communication, needs and
strategies
This 2005 book by Stephen Hagen, published by CILT, the National
Centre for Languages, investigates and measures
the impact of language and cultural barriers
on British trade and industry and how language
aware companies are succeeding abroad.
Find
out more
Back
to top 
World class customer service for 2012 and beyond (December 2008)
A consortium of Sector Skills Councils, working with the LDA and the
London LSC, has published a report which makes
recommendations for raising customer service standards across the visitor
economy in advance of the London 2012 Games. It illustrates how intercultural
skills can become a part of customer service training and identifies
clearly the importance of language and cultural skills, highlighting
RLN London’s
Welcoming the World programme.
Download
the full report
Languages and International Events (2008)
Authored by Professor Debra Kelly of the University of Westminster
as part of the HEFCE-funded Routes into Languages
programme, this report makes a number of recommendations
for London 2012, demonstrating the need to
create a successful language strategy and world-class
language provision.
Download
the report
Visit
the Routes into Languages website for more
Heathrow Talking to the world
Regional Language Network London completed a major language skills
audit at Heathrow airport, funded by London
West Learning and Skills Council and facilitated
at the airport by BAA.
Find out more
Skills needed for visitors and sport
at the 2012 Olympic Games (2007)
This report, prepared by Impact Research for the Skills for Business
Network, highlights the importance of language
and cultural skills in a wide range of occupations
vital to the successful running of the Games - from bus drivers to
chefs.
Download
the report (PDF, 625 KB)
Games Talk
This language planning book by Professor Joseph Lo Bianco, of the
University of Melbourne, outlines the preparations,
strategies and planning for language provision
undertaken by the Language Service Program
for the 2000 Sydney Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
Find
out more
London's language skills: a vision for
2012
The importance of languages to London was highlighted in an RLN London
briefing titled 'London's
language skills; a vision for London 2012' which was
included in the successful candidature file
presented to the IOC in February 2005.
Download
the briefing
London Employment and Skills Task Force for 2012
An action plan (PDF) has been created to maximise the employment
and skills benefits of the Games. RLN London is funded as part of this
plan to promote language and cultural skills.
Download the action plan
Winning: A tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond
In September 2007, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched
its tourism strategy which aims to maximise the potential benefits
offered to UK tourism by the 2012 Games. The need for training in foreign
language and cultural skills is highlighted.
Find
out more about the strategy
FE Curriculum Conference: Realising and delivering employment
potential for 2012
Representatives
of RLN London and CILT, the National Centre
for Languages presented as 'expert witnesses'
at the FE Curriculum Conference at Tower Hamlets
College in April 2006 - leading to a series
of recommendations relating to languages and
diversity.
Read
the conference report
Back
to top
Multilingualism: an asset for Europe and a shared commitment (European Commission, September 2008)
This Communication by the EU sets out to respond to the challenges
posed by the reality of a multilingual European community. It explores
issues such as the role of languages in developing mutual understanding
in a multicultural society, and how language skills improve employability
and ensure a competitive edge for European businesses.
Download
the report (PDF 79KB)
English language and employability in London (2008)
A research report produced by the London Skills and Employment
Board (LSEB) to identify what progress was already being made in
creating more effective English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
training, and the key blockages that continue to prevent this progress
from being rolled out.
Download the report
A Warm Welcome? Public Services and
Managing Migration in London
Published by the London Asylum Seekers’ Consortium in March 2008,
this report considers the language and cultural needs of migrants to
London especially in the context of public services delivery.
Download
the report
Data Management and Analysis Group (DMAG)
This team within the GLA deals with various types of socio-economic
and demographic data, and has particular
expertise in the analysis of government-generated
data sets such as the Census, Labour Force
Survey and population estimates.
Read
DMAG reports on diversity
Read
DMAG reports on immigration
English Language at Work: Work-based English
for Speakers of Other Languages
A DIUS publication which includes a range of ESOL case studies - demonstrating
the advantages to employees, employers and society in addressing English
language teaching needs.
Find
out more
Floodgates or turnstiles?
Post-EU enlargement migration flows to (and from) the UK
To mark the fourth anniversary of the enlargement of the European
Union in 2004, The Institute for Public Policy
Research (IPPR) has undertaken a major study
which presents fresh evidence on migration
from the eight new Central and Eastern European
countries that joined the EU in 2004 and
from Romania and Bulgaria, which joined in
2007.
Download
the study
See
IPPR migration data on the BBC website
Joseph Rowntree Foundation survey:
East European immigration and community cohesion
This research published in May
2007 explored the characteristics and experiences
of new European immigrants to the UK including
their interaction with local long-term residents,
and in relation to issues of community cohesion.
Find
out more
Researching asylum in London
RAL is an independent database of research on refugee and asylum
issues relevant to London which contains summaries
of available research and makes the aims, methodology,
key findings, conclusions and recommendations
easily identifiable.
Find
out more
Managing in a Global City
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) London Central commissioned
the Managing in a Global City report produced
by RLN London to support London employers in
working
with staff and customers from a wide range
of linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Find
out more
Language in the Construction Industry
This research by CILT, the National Centre for Languages looks at
communication issues in the context of health
and safety, which affect construction companies
when employing non-English speaking site workers.
Download
the report (295 KB, PDF)
Download
the simple guide to clear communication produced by CITB-ConstructionSkills
(55KB, PDF)
Back
to top
A Warm Welcome? Public Services and
Managing Migration in London
Published by the London Asylum Seekers’ Consortium in March 2008,
this report considers the language and cultural needs of migrants to
London especially in the context of public services delivery.
Download
the report
Back
to top
Results of
Language Trends 2005 community languages survey
This regional report for Central and Outer London is based on information
gathered from local authority representatives
by CILT, Scottish CILT and CILT Cymru. It shows
that at least 232 languages are currently in
use by children in school in London, and
at least 83,900 schoolchildren speak another
language in addition to English.
Read
the report (323KB, PDF)
Community Languages in Higher Education:
Towards Realising the Potential
This research which is part of the Routes into Languages initiative,
sets out to map provision for community languages, defined
as 'all languages in use in a society, other
than the dominant, official or national language’.
Find
out more
Data Management and Analysis Group (DMAG)
This team within the GLA deals with various types of socio-economic
and demographic data, and has particular
expertise in the analysis of government-generated
data sets such as the Census, Labour Force Survey and population estimates.
Read
DMAG reports on diversity
Read
DMAG reports on immigration
Global London
This web resource lists facilities and services
available in the capital for around eighty
communities living there.
Find
out more
Multilingual
Capital (Baker & Eversley, Battlebridge, 2000)
According to this research, over 300 different languages are spoken
by London schoolchildren. A series of 32 maps
shows how the proportion
of children who use the most widely spoken
languages varies across the Greater London
area.
Download
the top 40 languages spoken by pupils in London (9.2KB, PDF)
Find
out more about Multilingual Capital
Back
to top
Guardian map
A map highlighting the location and spread of ethnic groups across
the London boroughs has been produced by The
Guardian from the census 2001 results.
Download
the map (664KB, PDF)
Download
the ethnicity key to the map (7.6KB, rtf)
BBC information
The BBC has compiled information on the spread of nationalities in
London, according to the 2001 National Census.
Find
out more
CILT research on languages
spoken in the population
CILT, the National Centre for Languages has compiled
a variety of sources, which may help in predicting
language and cultural needs in London and elsewhere.
Find
out more
CILT also keeps track of a range of languages data for
the UK.
Find
out more
Data Management and Analysis Group (DMAG)
This team within the GLA deals with various types of socio-economic
and demographic data, and has particular
expertise in the analysis of government-generated
data sets such as the Census, Labour Force Survey and population estimates.
Read
DMAG reports on diversity
Read
DMAG reports on immigration
Commission for Racial Equality (CRE):
Ethnicity profiles
People from ethnic minority groups made up 40% of London's population
at the time of the 2001 census. The CRE have
put information on-line which describes the
ethnic make-up of London's population, by borough.
Find
out more
Multilingual
Capital (Baker & Eversley, Battlebridge, 2000)
According to this research, over 300 different languages are spoken
by London schoolchildren. A series of 32 maps shows how the proportion
of children who use the most widely spoken languages varies across
the Greater London area.
Download
the top 40 languages spoken by pupils in London (9.2KB, PDF)
Find
out more about Multilingual Capital
Think London research
on London's international communities
London's inward investment agency has briefings detailing London's
population for key international communities.
Find
out more
Visit London : Multicultural London
guides
Visit London has published information on London’s diverse
communities including free downloadable guides,
covering population
data, tips on shopping, eating and events as
well as the history of each community.
Find
out more
'The world in one city'
This research report, published in April 2008 by RLN London, explores
the language skills of London's residents -
and the reasons why we need to make the most
of their talent. UK-wide data from a recruitment
agency used and we
also look at language students and overseas
students in higher education.
Find
out more
Back
to top
Languages and International Events (2008)
Authored by Professor Debra Kelly of the University of Westminster
as part of the HEFCE-funded Routes into Languages
programme, this report makes a number of recommendations
for London 2012, demonstrating the need
to create a successful language strategy and world-class
language provision.
Download
the report
Visit
the Routes into Languages website for more
Community Languages in Higher Education:
Towards Realising the Potential
This research which is part of the Routes into Languages initiative,
sets out to map
provision for community languages, defined as 'all
languages in use in a society, other than the dominant,
official or national language’.
Find
out more
Figures of Speech: the 2007 NIACE survey
on languages
This survey shows that more languages
are spoken, more people have two languages - and
Learning English, almost invisible in NIACE's 1999 language-learning
survey, is now a dominant strand.
Find
out more
Languages education and enterprise
This project and its report provides information on the current provision
of enterprise skills within language courses – and recommends particular
examples of provision as models of good practice across a range of institutions.
Find
out more
Language study in Higher Education
in London
CILT, the National Centre for Languages collates data from the Higher
Education Statistics Agency annually showing numbers
of undergraduate students taking languages as a
degree option.
Find
out about statistics for HE on CILT's website
Download
data for 2002 to 2006
Results of Language
Trends 2005 community languages survey
This regional report for Central and Outer London is based on information
gathered from local authority representatives by CILT, Scottish CILT
and CILT Cymru. It shows that at least 232 languages are currently in
use by children in school in London, and at least 83,900 schoolchildren
speak another language in addition to English.
Read
the report (323KB, PDF)
Multilingual
Capital (Baker & Eversley, Battlebridge, 2000)
According to this research, over 300 different languages are spoken
by London schoolchildren. A series of 32 maps shows how the proportion
of children who use the most widely spoken languages varies across the
Greater London area.
Download
the top 40 languages spoken by pupils in London (9.2KB, PDF)
Find
out more about Multilingual Capital
Back
to top
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Business reports and surveys
