As the UK welcomes EU workers through the youth mobility scheme, English proficiency is emerging as a critical workplace skill. Dr Christopher McCormick explores how tech-enabled development solutions unlocks collaboration, productivity, innovation and growth. It’s not just for employees and organisations, but for national economies competing on the global stage.
The UK’s new youth mobility scheme is opening doors for more EU nationals to join the workforce. For businesses, this is a clear opportunity to gain new talent, perspectives, and innovation. But it also exposes the critical need for English proficiency.
English is no longer just a language, it is the world’s working currency. Companies today are increasingly virtual, with teams collaborating across time zones and continents. In this environment, borders should not be barriers, and neither should language. Without a shared medium, global teams lose agility, miscommunication rises, and opportunities are missed.
When employees can collaborate without language barriers, organisations make better decisions, move faster, and reach further
The economic case for English proficiency is compelling. The EF (Education First) English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), based on data from over 2.1 million people worldwide, consistently shows that countries and companies with higher levels of English outperform their peers across the metrics that matter most. Innovation, competitiveness and productivity all significantly improve with higher levels of proficiency. Put simply, when employees can collaborate without language barriers, organisations make better decisions, move faster, and reach further.
Communication confidence
For employees, English training is about much more than learning the grammar or vocabulary. It is about confidence. An employee who can contribute in English during a meeting, present their ideas clearly, or communicate with colleagues abroad feels more engaged and motivated in their business. Confidence translates into productivity and when people feel they can grow in their role, they are more likely to stay and to contribute at a higher level.
At the national level, the effects multiply. The EPI consistently finds a link between English proficiency and GDP growth. Countries with higher levels of English tend to be more competitive and more innovative. In other words, English is not only good for individual employees or companies, but also a driver of economic development.
How technology is transforming English training
One of the most exciting developments in this space is how technology is making English training more effective, more scalable, and more affordable. Traditional language classes often rely on rigid timetables, limited practice opportunities, and one-size-fits-all materials. That model simply does not work in a fast-paced, global business environment.
Digital platforms change the game. With AI-powered tutors, employees can practise at their own pace and receive immediate, personalised feedback. Interactive scenarios can simulate real workplace situations, from customer negotiations to team presentations. This creates practical learning that goes beyond textbooks and connects directly to the skills employees need on the job.
Technology also brings flexibility. Employees can fit learning into their schedule, whether that is during a commute, an open calendar spot, or after hours. Companies no longer need to pull staff away from their work for long classroom sessions. Learning becomes continuous, integrated into the flow of daily life, and supported by real-time progress tracking.
Importantly, technology makes it possible to deliver training at scale without sacrificing quality. For a multinational company with thousands of employees in different markets, this is essential. Role-specific English courses can ensure that an engineer in Poland, a customer service representative in Spain, and a manager in Germany are all learning the skills they need most for their roles. Progress can be measured consistently across the organisation, providing leaders with data-driven insights into strengths and gaps.
Digital English training can boost confidence and performance across entire workforces. Employees appreciate the flexibility and relevance, while employers gain from higher productivity, stronger collaboration, and more agile teams.
What companies can do now
While the case for English proficiency is clear, it does not happen by accident. Companies need a deliberate strategy to raise the overall level of English in their workforce. That starts with setting realistic goals that take into account the time required for individuals to close the gap between current and target proficiency. Testing the workforce to identify weaknesses, and then offering role-specific training, ensures that learning is both efficient and relevant.
Beyond training, companies should also embed English into their culture by encouraging international collaboration, setting minimum proficiency standards for key roles, and rewarding progress.
Perhaps most importantly, leaders should lead by example, sharing their own experiences as learners and fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement.
It is also vital to remember that companies cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. Governments, policymakers, schools, and universities all have a central role to play in preparing young people for a more mobile, international workforce. English training should be embedded early into education systems, not treated as an optional extra.
By the time young people arrive in the workplace, they should already feel confident using English to collaborate, think critically, and contribute to global projects. National curricula should develop academic skills as well as encourage practical application of the language. Vocational training and universities can continue to bridge the gap between knowledge development and the practical, role-specific skills that employers need.
When governments and businesses align their efforts in this way, the benefits extend far beyond individual companies, they create stronger, more competitive economies as a whole.
English as an advantage
English proficiency is not simply a matter of communication. It is a competitive advantage. For companies, it means better collaboration, stronger innovation, and higher productivity. For employees, it means confidence, growth, and opportunity. For countries, it means competitiveness on the global stage.
The youth mobility scheme will bring new energy to the UK workforce, but it will also bring new challenges. Organisations and individuals that prepare now by investing in English proficiency will be the ones that thrive. With technology breaking down barriers of cost, time, and geography, there has never been a better moment to make that investment.
Dr Christopher McCormick is Chief Academic Officer at Efekta Education Group
