Sheffield took another step forward in becoming a global city of the future when it signed an international pledge to support young people to learn languages with the support of local business.

Businesses across the city and in the South Yorkshire region have been helping young people learn that speaking a language or two has real benefits in the world of business.

Through a ground-breaking initiative called Business Language Champions, local companies welcome pupils into their workplaces and underline how being able to communicate in several languages helps their export business and the company to grow. Students are encouraged to use their language skills on the visit and talk to staff who are multilingual.

Sheffield has more companies backing the Business Languages Programme than any other city in the country. It currently has 23 companies supporting the scheme pioneered by the Regional Language Network Yorkshire and Humber (RLNYH).

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of Sheffield City Council and Chief Executive John Mothersole signed the Council of Europe’s Language Education Policy Profile on behalf of Sheffield - the first European city to be profiled.

(l-r) John Mothersole, Chief Executive Sheffield City Council, Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader and
 Cllr Mike Reynolds who is the Council’s lead member for language development

 

“I would like to thank businesses on behalf of the city which have so far supported this ground-breaking scheme and encourage more to get involved,” said Cllr Scriven.

One of the employers which joined the scheme two years ago is Dronfield-based Padley &Venables Ltd, which produces high quality equipment for the civil engineering and mining industries.

Its export manager Yves Salat, who attended the signing event, said language skills were an important element in helping companies broaden their customer base and offer added value and customer care.

 said Mr Salat, who is originally from France and welcomes groups of students into their 98-year-old business who are studying French and Spanish from schools around the city.

One of the pioneers of the scheme is Peter Kersh, from Sheffield, who studied languages at King Edward VII school.

"I’m delighted to have been on the BLCs programme since its inception. Languages have been at the very heart of everything I have done in business for many years and, on a practical level, languages and cultural awareness have been responsible for the success of the businesses I have worked in. I believe this is a strong message for school students and the BLC programme is a great way of getting it across,"

said Peter who is Managing Director of a thriving and innovative fish food business in Doncaster who uses his language skills as part of the company's global sales and marketing drive.

Sheffield City Council also has its own International Business Communication project which encourages language learning and development which dovetails into the RLNYH scheme.

RLNYH’s Director Dr Sandra Potestà, praised Sheffield’s lead and hoped other cities would follow suit. She said:

 

Round table discussion: Business Language Champions
attending the signing ceremony.