Article Details

Article Details

Role of languages in international performance for UK SMEs

Author: Aston University
Date of Publication: 2021

Key messages on language skills:

  • Language capacity has a strong, direct and positive relationship with export orientation which refers to the company generating, responding to or disseminating export intelligence and analysis for international markets.
  • Language capacity also has a significant direct relationship on export sales, growth and profits, as well as the company’s networking capabilities and value-based selling activities, indicating that SMEs embracing language capabilities are more successful in exporting than those who do not.
  • Staff training and willingness to invest in translation and language services are the two most important drivers facilitating language capacity within a company. Staff members’ linguistic competencies and cultural awareness are necessary for language capacity.

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Posted in: Business Case
University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages