Welcome

Welcome to the eighth edition of the RLN London Newsletter. It's here to keep you up-to-date with languages and cultural skills in London. In this edition, we're highlighting a range of resources which can help businesses, employees and jobseekers learn how to welcome overseas visitors to London.

If you have any feedback at all - ideas for future stories, information you'd like to see in the newsletter or on our website - please let us know.

Jane Collis, Director - Regional Language Network London.

Welcoming the World

In spite of the gloomy economic climate, the weak pound is still attracting overseas visitors to the UK. Whatever your line of work, find out how to give them the warmest welcome.

• Case studies: we've been talking to London Buses, Alhambra Hotel and other businesses to find out how they use their website, their team and services like language training to improve the way they welcome visitors
• Business guide: our downloadable guide can help organisations to plan their international communications effectively and make the most of overseas tourism
• Welcoming the World: our training programme and online resources are helping people from London businesses including the Royal Opera House, Tate Modern, London Underground and Red Carnation Hotels give great customer service to overseas visitors

In the news

MP uses French during surgery
MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch Meg Hillier has put her language skills to good use during local surgeries, where many constituents originally from French-speaking Africa are more comfortable speaking French. Find out more.

Britain needs language skills in a recession
In a leading article, The Times suggests that monolingual British citizens will struggle to compete with their multilingual continental European rivals in the current job market. Find out more.

The business of language

Doing business in Poland or Spain?
UK Trade & Investment in London are running one-day seminars on Poland (5 March) and Spain (11 March) where you can develop the cultural knowledge you need when trading in these territories. If you'd like to learn more about using languages and cultural skills and services for international trade, visit RLN London's business pages.

World Class customer service for 2012 and beyond
A consortium of Sector Skills Councils, led by People 1st and with funding from the London Development Agency and London Learning and Skills Council, has made recommendations for raising customer service standards across the visitor economy in advance of the London 2012 Games. Find out more.

London businesses show increasing need for language skills
The latest survey published by the CBI in London shows increasing demand for foreign language skills – up from 21% in 2007 to 26% in December 2008.  As many as 51% of businesses rely on recruiting staff from overseas.  You can find more facts and figures about language skills on the RLN London website.  Read about the CBI survey.

Watch this space!
More support for businesses is on its way soon from RLN London.  Look out for our first business-focused newsletter next month along with the launch of our Language and Cultural Planner – a tool to help businesses and business advisers find smart advice on training, translation, interpreting, recruitment, website development and more.

Language professionals

2009 Institute of Translation and Interpreting International Conference
This year's ITI conference is themed on 'Sustainability in Translation' and will take place on 16 and 17 May in Westminster. The programme includes talks from speakers who use translation and interpreting services in their work on green issues, and sessions will interest those considering a career in translation and interpreting as well as experienced professionals. Find out more.

Teaching languages

Student from North London school wins best young translator prize
Sabrina Vashisht is the best young translator in Britain after winning a prestigious prize from the European Commission.  Sabrina, who attends the North London Collegiate School in Edgware, is one of 27 winners of the Juvenes Translatores competition across Europe. Find out more.

Languages of the wider world
This international conference - themed on 'Multilingualism, regional and minority languages' - is being held at the School of African and Oriental Studies in London on 16 and 17 April 2009. It explores aspects of language learning including the right to learn and use the mother tongue and learn other languages. Find out more.

About RLN London

Read about what Regional Language Network London does in thirteen different languages.