Support colleagues whose first language isn’t English.

Many UK workplaces are now culturally and linguistically diverse.

International colleagues bring valuable skills, experience and perspectives. Yet even fluent English speakers may encounter communication challenges at work.

Misunderstandings in meetings.
Anxiety and additional cognitive load
Difficulty speaking up or asking questions.

This workshop helps teams create an environment where international colleagues feel confident, supported and able to contribute fully.

Create teams that mesh together

When colleagues feel safe asking questions, sharing ideas and admitting uncertainty, teams become stronger. This is known as psychological safety, and it plays a key role in effective collaboration.

“This course made me question assumptions I make about peoples understanding of all aspects of spoken language, regardless of how fluent they may first appear.”

Hollie Denton, Everyturn Mental Health

Hidden Challenges for Fluent English Speakers

In a predominantly British workplace, international colleagues can easily feel insecure about their English level, even if they speak the language to a very high standard.

The real life story below demonstrates how this can affect staff morale and retention-

Teams where jargon and idioms are used widely, with little awareness or consideration, can feel unwelcoming to newcomers.

Does your team notice how much they’re using jargon and idioms? Do they even know what an idiom is? The ones who grew up speaking English may have zero awareness of how tricky the English language can be for those who speak it as a foreign Language.

In just two hours, this workshop changes that.

What you'll learn

Creating a Culture of Belonging

What makes working in a second language challenging, even for fluent speakers
Which aspects of workplace communication cause most difficulty
How YOUR speech sounds, and how to be crystal clear
Jargon, idioms, phrasal verbs and other confusing English words.
How to rephrase without dumbing down
How to write clearer emails
Tips for more inclusive meetings

Small changes in communication can make a significant difference to team culture.

When colleagues feel safe speaking up, asking questions and sharing ideas, teams become more innovative and collaborative.

Building that culture starts with communication.

Organisations that invest in this training send a clear message to their international employees –

We’re not waiting for you to speak English like a British person.
We value you as you are.
If you don’t understand, you can tell us.
You belong here.

If your team is culturally diverse, everyone benefits.

"Fifty-six percent (56%) of respondents from very diverse workplaces described their teams’ morale as excellent versus only 23% of respondents from less diverse workplaces."

Brodeur Partners

Practical details

2 hour interactive workshop
Face to face or online
Up to 20 participants
Real workplace examples and discussion
Suitable for team members and managers

Ready to Strengthen Communication in Your Team?

Book a workshop for your organisation or get in touch to discuss your team’s needs.

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