Education and Training Awards 2020

Jun20253 Best Government Foreign Language Training Provider 2020 In an international landscape, the need to speak different languages has become more and more important. As the ability to communicate at a high level becomes evermore important, the need for companies such as Professional Language Solutions Ltd has become vital. With an ability to train people to communicate in multiple languages in high stakes situations, their success is undeniable. We profile them to find out more. Founded in London in 1991, the team at PLS have over 29 years of proven experience in large-scale foreign language training projects. These highly flexible programmes have been a lifeline for leading businesses and organisations, delivered on-site throughout the UK and globally through virtual classroom technology. The mission of PLS is simple – the provision of tailored language training to suit personal and professional communication goals. PLS have been used by many high-profile organisations, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government being one of the most notable. Here the team was asked to deliver training in more than fifty foreign languages to the FCO’s diplomatic staff, as well as other government departments and agencies. Working in a niche market, PLS have proven experience in delivering exceptional results to its client base. The team only work for government departments and corporate clients, demonstrating the esteem with which it is held. Unlike many competitors on the market, PLS offers a large geographic coverage thanks to a proven national and international network. Far from being only a London-based company, the team are able support people on a global level in terms of languages and personalised customer-support. With so many courses delivered in a variety of different locations and situations, the firm has come to embrace the use of digital content to ensure complete flexibility. This is combined with local, face to face training where appropriate. PLS has a great deal of experience dealing with clients who have complex procurement requirements. Their work is thoroughly in line with best practice, with the team keeping an eye on new regulations such as GDPR, HSE compliance and how best to handle these challenges. In the last few months, training has understandably shifted to remote systems in very short order, which has required a fundamental rethink of lesson structure and content. With the clear benefits of remote learning, such as reducing the challenges of finding space and gathering people together for face to face classes, it’s easy to see that more clients will want this method of delivery as standard. Similarly, the firm is preparing to adapt for the need to provide more targeted course content. Instead of generic textbooks, clients expect language training relevant to the specific areas their staff operate in. PLS is already responding to this by developing a suite of customer- focused online placement tests in numerous foreign languages, as well as e-learning courses for very specific target groups of students. Looking ahead, the future will be a challenging one for the team at PLS, with the language training industry facing unprecedented challenges. As government budgets are stretched and corporate clients likely to be reducing spending on training in the months ahead, businesses like PLS will have to continue to innovate to succeed. That said, the UK’s departure from the EU will open up new doors to the firm. In a post-Brexit Europe, UK government representatives are likely to find that their EU counterparts are less willing to conduct meetings in English. The team at PLS could find themselves in incredibly high demand in the new Global Britain. Many companies have struggled to adapt to the new normal, but PLS has changed swiftly to meet the expectations of clients around the world. The team’s considered approach has meant that they have achieved great things for nearly thirty years, and their reaction to unprecedented situations shows how they will thrive for another thirty. Company: Professional Language Solutions Web Address: www.langsols.com The mission of PLS is simple – the provision of tailored language training to suit personal and professional communication goals. PLS have been used by many high-profile organisations, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British Government being one of the most notable.