Language:
The Misco2 project is a pilot project which helps companies in England & France gain an improved mutual understanding of each other’s language & culture. A knowledge of a customer's language, even at a basic level, can show commitment to a business relationship and enable companies to reach a wider customer base. A more proficient knowledge of the language will help businesses communicate more effectively with existing or potential customers in their target markets. Experience has also shown that a knowledge of a customer’s culture helps both with understanding their behaviour and adapting marketing material.
The project is funded by the European Union’s Territorial Cooperation Interreg programme. It consists of a brief survey of business needs, the sharing & adaptation of existing resource, and a series of language & business culture workshops on both sides of the border. Companies will be offered the opportunity to take part in 4 half-day workshops focussed on aspects of French business culture, 2 in Brittany and 2 in the East of England. They shall also have the opportunity to improve their English or French language skills through participation in one of 4 planned groups of language training, 2 in Brittany and 2 in the East of England. Each group shall have up to 36hrs of language training, and shall be tailored where possible to the needs of the businesses involved.
The project aims to bring together the expertise and resource of 4 organisations on either side of the Channel for the mutual support of the regions’ business communities. Partners in the project have a knowledge of the companies they support and are experienced language & culture trainers. The project is led by RLN East, partnered in Brittany with ADIT (Agence de Développement Industriel du Trégor) and UCO (Université Catholique de Ouest-Bretagne), and with Dialogue Language Services in Norfolk. Main activity runs from Sep 2009 to June 2010.
Companies wishing to participate in the project are welcome to contact their respective project manager (see the ‘Contact’ section). In the East of England companies must be based in the 4 coastal counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex & Cambridgeshire. In Brittany the project supports companies in the Côtes d’Armor.
