The economic benefits of the Welsh language are also increasingly being recognised, both by employers and by employees.

Throughout Wales more and more employers - in the public, private and voluntary sectors - in response to the growing expectations of their customers, are becoming aware of the benefits of using the language, such as:

• improving the quality of customer service
• attracting new customers
• increasing customer loyalty
• harnessing goodwill at relatively low cost
• gaining a marketing edge over competitors
• enhancing public relations efforts

With organisations in all sectors offering more and more bilingual services, they obviously need people with bilingual skills to deliver them.

And, in the workplace, the ability to speak or write in Welsh and in English is a valuable skill, just like computer or financial skills. The number of people with bilingual skills needed will of course vary from one organisation to the next, depending on its location what type of service it provides and how it deals with its customers.

The reality is that over the next decade in Wales, this situation will continue to develop, in response to customers' wishes and expectations. There will be jobs at all levels for which an ability to work bilingually will be desirable, if not essential.

This is one of the major factors which continues to drive the demand for Welsh-medium education and vocational training, as young people and their parents recognise the economic value of the Welsh language. The private sector is also one of the Board's strategic priorities and the history of our involvement with the sector can be found on this website.