People who speak more than one language are likely to be richer and happier according to a new study carried out by the creator of the Sunday Times Rich List.



The first study of its kind by Philip Beresford, for the Michel Thomas Language Centre, shows that Polyglots – those with more than one language – are much in demand. Indeed, 9 out of 10 of the 2,700 firms surveyed believe better language skills would benefit their organisation.



Companies are prepared to pay workers earning the national average (£25,818) as much as 12 per cent extra for a second language. This equates to a rather tidy £3,000 extra per annum, or £145,000 over an individual’s working lifetime. Amongst higher earners the difference is even more marked.



The most commonly used languages used in UK business are French, German, Spanish and Italian. With globalisation and further European integration inevitable, it of course makes perfect sense that the government has decided to no longer make studying a language up to GCSE standard compulsory!



On top of limiting job seekers employability – over half the respondents say they are more likely a candidate with language skills than one without – it is having the effect of making the UK less potent as a business force. It is estimated British firms miss out on £750 million each year because employees lack the skills to communicate with overseas companies.



Even if the above hasn’t persuaded you to dust down your ‘Tricolor’, then the second part of the study might. Beresford maintains that having a second language can have a personal as well as financial benefit.



To prove his hypothesis he contacted 270 dating agencies; 97 per cent asked their clients if they had a second language. The agencies did so because prospective daters saw someone with a foreign language as “more intelligent and sexier than other people.”