In an increasingly diverse and inclusive job market, individuals are constantly seeking ways to enhance their skillsets and stand out from the crowd.
One skill that has gained recognition for its potential to boost employability is British Sign Language (BSL). BSL is a language many Deaf people across the UK use. It’s a visual language that uses hand shapes, facial expressions and body movements to communicate, rather than sound.
As BSL becomes more recognised and awareness spreads, following the BSL Act 2022’s introduction, many employers see BSL as a useful skill.
But, does learning BSL make you more employable? Read on to find out…
Five benefits of learning BSL
Beyond its significance in facilitating communication with the Deaf community, learning BSL has far-reaching implications for professional growth. Effective communication is a cornerstone of success in any profession.
By learning BSL, individuals not only acquire a unique form of communication but also develop a heightened awareness of non-verbal communication cues. These skills can be transferable across various roles, making individuals more adept at navigating complex professional interactions.
Learning British Sign Language as a hearing person can offer a variety of personal and societal benefits, including:
- Improved communication – Learning BSL allows hearing people to communicate with Deaf individuals more effectively, fostering better understanding and connection.
- Enhanced empathy – Acquiring BSL skills gives insight into the experiences of the Deaf community, promoting empathy and a deeper appreciation for diversity.
- Increased inclusivity – Being able to communicate in BSL contributes to creating more inclusive environments, breaking down communication barriers and promoting equal participation.
- Professional opportunities – Having proficiency in BSL can be an asset in certain professions, especially those that involve regular interaction with Deaf individuals or within inclusive workplaces.
- Cultural awareness – Learning BSL exposes you to Deaf culture, fostering cultural awareness and helping to break down stereotypes and misconceptions.
By learning BSL, you contribute to the overall goal of making society more accessible for everyone, regardless of their hearing abilities. Learning a new language, especially one that involves non-verbal communication, can enhance your cognitive skills, memory and mental agility, contributing to your personal growth.
Benefits of learning BSL for employment
Learning BSL widens your career opportunities. It opens up jobs that specifically require sign language abilities, such as working in Deaf education or Deaf advocacy roles.
Many jobs that directly serve the Deaf community require fluent BSL skills. But even when applying for general positions, having BSL skills on your CV may help you stand out from other candidates.
It shows a genuine interest in learning new skills beyond the bare minimum qualifications.
For customer-facing roles, being able to communicate using BSL provides better service for Deaf customers who rely on sign language. Having staff who can sign allows companies to show they’re inclusive and willing to make accommodations for customers with different needs. This level of service helps build loyalty and positive brand image among the Deaf community. Many organisations cite that offering BSL improves customer satisfaction and makes Deaf customers more likely to return when their staff can sign.
In office environments with Deaf colleagues, BSL skills facilitate better team communication, collaboration and integration. A hearing employee who can sign fluidly makes it easier to communicate key information, take part in meetings, provide feedback and socialise together at breaks. This ensures Deaf team members don’t feel excluded or require interpreters for daily interactions. Managers praise BSL skills for helping hearing and Deaf employees work together efficiently as an integrated team.
Being able to sign also shows you can work smoothly alongside people with different backgrounds and needs. Many companies highlight this as an asset as it demonstrates adaptability, empathy and strength working in diverse teams. This trait is increasingly valued in modern workplaces that bring together staff from a wide range of communities.
However, it’s worth noting that most roles don’t require BSL skills, so for many jobs it may not make a major difference in getting hired. A lot depends on the individual employer, their priorities around diversity and inclusion, and how much value they place on BSL abilities.
We’re also still in the very early stages of BSL recognition in the UK workplace – the British Sign Language Act, which legally recognises BSL as a language of England, Scotland and Wales, was only enacted in early 2022.
So, while still an advantage in relatively few roles, knowledge of BSL is increasingly seen as a valuable skill by UK employers. And as awareness and recognition of BSL continues to improve across British society, being able to sign is likely to enhance employability in more fields.
But for now, the impact on job prospects is limited unless BSL skills are directly relevant to the role.
How can Sign Solutions help?
Employers increasingly value adaptability, empathy and interpersonal skills. Being open to learning BSL indicates these traits, which are useful across many roles.
So, if you want to gain your certificate in British Sign Language, there are several courses available. Learning BSL can take from as little as a year, up to 7+ years, depending on how much you want to learn and in how much depth.
We offer bespoke BSL courses in levels one to three for groups of interested learners. We don’t provide single person BSL courses. We work hard to tailor all our courses to suit individual organisations’ needs, from the content delivered to class size and location.
Our offices in the heart of the Midlands mean we are ideally located to provide our award-winning training services anywhere in the country.
Alternatively, we can offer remote sessions via any video platform of your choice. Please contact training@signsolutions.uk.com for more information.
