An inability to form relationships overseas due to weak foreign language skills and a lack of cultural awareness is holding back the UK’s export market, claims a new research paper.
Geoffrey Bowden, of The Association of Translation Companies (ATC), explains:
“There is still an assumption by many UK businesses that everyone speaks English and that there is no need to translate business and marketing documents into local languages. The fact that such a large proportion of exporters cited a difficulty in engaging customers and a weakness of relationships with overseas influencers is an indicator that communication is a big problem for many.
“However, what causes greater concern is a lack of awareness that language skills are a crucial factor in a successful export strategy and a greater understanding of the importance of communication is needed.”
The UK trade deficit has steadily worsened since 1997, hitting a record low of £4.4billion.
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