Demand from employers for English language classes in the workplace has resulted in a new programme which is currently underway for businesses in Inverness.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise recently published a Migrant Workers report which established that employers recognised the need for English language support for those economic migrants coming to the Highlands and Islands in search of employment.

The English at Work project is being carried out by the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) with migrant workers who are working at Highview Nursing Home, The Drumossie Hotel, Strathaird Salmon Ltd and Hambleside Danelaw.  The courses have been designed by the tutor with input from a project team made up of the HR person or manager of the workplace and the supervisors or team leaders, who work directly with the learners.

Over the past two years, WEA has become actively involved in the delivery of integrated literacy and numeracy as well as recent English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training in the Highlands. The ESOL courses are generally forty hours long, though length, as well as time of day, is negotiated with the workplace. 

Initial contact with businesses in Inverness who employ migrant workers, has been met with positive responses from workplaces and it is proposed to develop these training programmes with other organisations in the Highlands and Islands. 

Judie Holliday, WEA's English at Work co-ordinator explained:  "Migrant workers are contributing a great deal to the local economy, filling gaps in our labour market and are a welcome addition to our social mix.  The ability to speak English is an essential part of their lives at work and in the community.  With better spoken and written abilities they are able to offer more skills and find it easier to do all the things that make life more rewarding." 

HIE Inverness and East Highland is providing financial assistance of £19,775 towards this pilot project.

Fiona Robb, development manager for HIE Inverness and East Highland said: "We recognise the great benefits that migrant workers can provide to the area and to the local economy.  Companies which employ migrant workers can have access to courses to help their employees improve their communication in English, therefore benefiting both the employer and the employee."

Bill Macdonald is the HR director of Strathaird Salmon Ltd who employ migrant workers from Poland to Brazil.  He said:  "Approximately thirty of those employed by us who have come to the Highlands to work have taken up these English language courses so far, and we have more planned for the New Year.  They have proved to be a real asset in improving our communication with the workforce and in improving the longer term integration of the foreign workforce in to the wider supervisory and management positions within the company."

Douglas Cowan, head of population growth at HIE said:  "It is really encouraging to see this positive contribution from our businesses in supporting the integration of migrant workers. Language skills are not only important in terms of the productivity of the employee to the business, but also to the integration of migrant workers into the wider community."