STUDENTS have been given a lesson on the uses of languages in the workplace as part of an innovative new scheme.

Staff from Bradford on Avon firm Avon Rubber visited St Augustine's Catholic College, Trowbridge, to talk to Year 9 students about the benefits of being able to speak foreign languages once they enter the workplace.

Avon spokesman Jayne Hunt said: "The international nature of our manufacturing facilities and customers means that we truly understand and value the importance of communicating in languages appropriate to our workforce and customers.

"It is a real concern that so few people in the UK have foreign languages and yet to companies like ours they form such an important role in our day-to-day operations."

Avon Rubber employs about 24 people at its Bradford on Avon site and 4,500 in 11 different countries across the world.

It is one of 12 businesses in the South West to sign up to Business Language Champions, an initiative from the Regional Language Network South West which seeks to encourage students to continue language studies at school to meet the needs of businesses which are increasingly trading in an international market place.

Ms Hunt said: "At Avon we take pride in getting involved in local initiatives with the local community and were only too happy to use our experiences to get the message across to students that there is a real value for them to acquire foreign language skills."

The number of students taking a foreign language at GCSE level has fallen over the past decade and a recent survey by the European Commission revealed that over 65 per cent of UK citizens stated they could speak only their own language.

Clare Brahan, head of foreign languages at St Augustine's, said the input of local companies was very useful to the students.

She said: "Having a local company share their expertise and experiences with our students helps to bring to life what we teach in the classroom and adds credibility to our efforts to get students to develop their foreign languages skills to give them the best possible start in the world of work."

The 100 Year 9 students were also given the chance to go on a tour of the company's factory to give them a first-hand knowledge of the use for languages in business.