RLN North East

Communicating World-Class

Supported by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, the RLN NE works to promote a greater national capability in language and cultural skills for business and employment.

Our offer...

RLN NE offers professional assistance to help North East Businesses:

• Develop language skills
• Develop knowledge of other business cultures
• Improve business performance in international markets
• Link with language service professionals
• Publicise case studies highlighting best practice

Working in close co-operation with businesses, language service providers and partner organisations RLN NE is building a thriving network to continue to develop the region's competitiveness.

Best Performing RLN

The RLN NE has been named the best-performing RLN in the UK by CILT, the National Centre for Languages. This accolade was given in the Summer 2003 Project Evaluation of the Regional Language Networks project. We have engaged with over 500 businesses in the North East since our inception in 2002. Over the coming months with one-to-one mentoring, the network is set to help more companies on the North East achieve greater success in international markets. The RLN NE also offers services to those involved in the teaching of language and cultural skills, individuals with language skills and language service providers.

Origins of the RLN NE

North East companies are losing business in international markets through lack of language skills and intercultural understanding (One North East Language Skills Capacity Audit 2000).

• 1 in 5 businesses are aware of losing business as a result of a lack of language skills;
• 1 in 5 businesses are aware of cultural barriers;
• Almost 1in 2 businesses have encountered language barriers.

Click here to view the Language Skills Capacity Audit Executive Summary.

Linking businesses and providers

The decline in business language skills in this area mirrors a similar decline identified in other regions throughout the UK. As such, the work being carried out by RLN NE is also being replicated in other regions throughout the country through a national initiative by CILT, the National Centre for Languages in a bid to increase trade in international markets. The Regional and Language Networks Project brings together 12 (R)LNs across the UK, to find out more visit the CILT website.

The RLN NE website aims to provide the business community with a central point of contact to facilitate and promote communication between businesses, language service providers and key players in the North East.