Employers say that new recruits lack workplace customer service and languages skills, according to a new report by GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Passenger Transport.

The report Skills for a World Class Service found that employers want schools and colleges to pay more attention to developing these skills.

The report, written by Patsy Hodgson, an assistant head tacher, calls for development of pupils customer service/ soft skills to start at seven-years-old. It also calls for language learning to be compulsory, with all children having a

There also needs to be a greater collaboration between business and schools to help teachers understand the value and workplace relevance of skills they teach, and for companies to understand the school system.

Peter Huntington, GoSkills' Chief Executive, said: "This report shows that we need to raise awareness of the links between language skills and employability. It highlights the importance of preparing young people for sustainable future employment and the need to embed customer service and soft skills into the curricula.

"We have found that, while employers need recruits to have language skills, many of those emerging from the UK education system do not have the required proficiency and some employers will look to the global market to meet their need."