"The government says growing the UK economy is its number one priority, and our industry can play a part in that. This report demonstrates how government support for us could help drive growth, income, and jobs. 

"This week we launch our new position paper with six recommendations, which would support UK tourism in general and would not compromise government red lines on freedom of movement. Together, they would provide a better operating environment, a more agile immigration regime and more concrete promotional support at very low cost. In the current global and economic uncertainty, we think UK ELT makes a very strong case." 

The timing of our policy position paper is even more critical in light of the government's release of the immigration white paper published on Monday 12 May. We are reflecting on its content and its potential impact on the sector.

Soft power, wider global influence

The 62-page report, commissioned by English UK, finds ELT is worth over £1.8bn to the UK and supports 40,000 jobs, but stresses that there are "substantial benefits arising from the sector's contribution to the UK's soft power and wider global influence. The sector enables intercultural competence and understanding to be built between the UK and other nations, something that is essential at a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty."

Innovation, quality and tourism

Evidence was gathered from sources including 20% of ELT centres, and highlights changes in the sector during the past decade. Brexit and Covid-19 initially accelerated the decline in adult markets and a shift towards shorter junior courses, with the rise in online learning and UK-specific cost pressures adding further challenges. The report's authors note the focus on innovation and quality among the most successful centres and suggest increased collaboration with tourism bodies.

More staff, value and student spend

Despite falling student numbers (almost 150,000 fewer in 2024 than 2014), shorter lengths of stay and falling numbers of centres, there have been positive changes. These include a 3% rise in direct employment and a 15% growth in real value added per student partly arising from a "significant" rise in their average spend. In 2024, ELT centres collected £996 bn in revenue, employing over 14,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and benefits are spread across the four nations and many regions. 

Innovation and quality

The Pragmatix report says the most successful centres "are demonstrating that growth and sustainability are possible through a focus on innovation and quality." Some providers talked about the need to innovate, with examples including embedding English within a subject-based course or using AI to supplement face-to-face learning. "Others have simply concentrated on providing high quality language learning courses to a known market that is underpinned by strong, long-term relationships. For these centres, the quality and retention of their teaching staff is paramount." 

Use visitor destination appeal

To remain competitive, says the report, "the UK must better harness its appeal as a visitor destination, especially given that evidence shows that visitors who study English language as part of their trip to the UK spend twice as much and stay longer than those who do not." Official visitor and tourism bodies should be "actively engaged with the ELT sector" through English UK and the Department for Business and Trade to support new markets and optimise recruitment from existing one. "This would include the emerging and growing market of 'educo-tourists' seeking to combine language study with travel."