WHEN a truck driver unloads his expensive cargo at an East Lancashire aerospace company it helps if he speaks French or Spanish.

After all, the delivery instructions on the hi-tech hardware are likely to written in a foreign language as big business increasingly goes global.

Meanwhile, when a Lancashire Fire and Rescue operator takes a 999 call it might be from someone whose first language is Urdu -- and there's no time to waste.

The message that learning languages at school can boost your job prospects -- and your pay packet -- in unexpected ways was driven home to 200 pupils at a Languages At Work Day.

Alan Cullens, training manager at aero conglomerate Hurel-Hispano in Burnley, said: "The people we need to talk business with on a daily basis are in Spain, Italy, Brazil and France.

"It also helps if the truck driver can understand his delivery instructions if they're in French."

Kay Renton, senior development officer with the East Lancashire Education Business Partnership, which organised the event, said: "There are many misconceptions about how languages are used in the workplace. Most people only think that they can become a translator, interpreter or teacher.

"The fact is that these professions represent the minority of opportunities out there for language students."

The students heard presentations in Japanese, German, French and Urdu. And Kay said: "In several studies by universities it has been found that language graduates enjoy the third lowest unemployment rates in the country, topped only by medicine and education. It's why languages are so important.

"Languages are part of everyday work; they are not just for export. They are important for all organisations, all job roles, whether you are operating globally or locally."

For engineering, French and German are important languages to have, but community languages such as Urdu and Bengali can be vital for some local authority jobs. And many citizens' advice bureaux in East Lancashire have bi-lingual staff.

One managing director told students: "The fact that I wasn't able to communicate very well in a foreign language cost me at least £500,000 a year."