Polish now the region's second language

Feb 22 2007

THE changing face of the West Midlands has been revealed in a new report which claims Polish is now the region's second language.

The report revealed that at firms where English is not the first language, 35 per cent employ Polish speakers, compared with only 16 per cent employing French speakers and 11 per cent Spanish.

The figures were released by the Regional Language Network West Midlands, which contacted 517 companiesy.

Poland's acceptance into the EU in 2004 has led to an estimated 20,000 Poles settling in the West Midlands.

Fran Oborski, of the Polish Consulate in Kidderminster, said: "These figures do not surprise me. There is a long established community of Poles in the West Midlands. They are highly skilled and prepared to work very hard."

After the Second World War hundreds of Poles moved to Birmingham to find work, many as bus drivers.

Travel West Midlands spokesman Phil Bateman said: "We have about 400 Polish workers throughout the company. Two years ago we went to Poland to find drivers because there had been so much interest."