SENIOR figures in the Oxfordshire business community have highlighted the importance of reading in the workplace.

They talked about how vital literacy is to help develop a successful career and backed the Oxfordshire Reading Campaign.

The campaign, launched last month, aims to improve reading skills among youngsters, following statistics which show many are underperforming at all levels, particularly Key Stage 1.

Lynn Shepherd, director of communications at hi-tech engineering firm Oxford Instruments, based at Tubney Woods, near Abingdon, said: “We need to be able to read and write to communicate and understand the world around us.

“I remember reading CS Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as a child and being transported to a whole new world.

“That wonder has never left me and I support any campaign that gives young children the opportunity to use and enjoy our wonderful world of words.”

Mark Charter, head of estate agents Carter Jonas in Oxford, said: “Being able to read at the most basic level is essential to get anywhere in the world, but I believe the more you read the more you learn.

“Developing a love of reading will have profound benefits in your professional life, as it will help you to do well at school and get better qualifications. I can remember reading Watership Down as a child and loving it, and another favourite author was James Herriott.

“These were the kind of books that got me reading and since then there has rarely been a time in my life when I haven't had a book on the go.”

Iain Lewis is the director of the Torpedo Group marketing agency in Cassington.

He told the Oxford Mail: “It is vital we work to high standards of literacy. We couldn’t continue the level of service clients have come to expect if our account management and design teams didn’t have exceptional literacy skills.”

Paul Mabbutt, managing director of Jennings business parks based in Chalgrove, said: “Literacy skills are essential in business for communication. One of our clients had a vacancy recently and was surprised by the poor quality of applications, even from degree students with low standards of grammar and spelling.

“A well-written application does make an impact on a prospective employer and in the workplace literacy is often essential to understanding and communicating with others, whether customers or colleagues.”

Christina Nawrocki, of Oxford-based Wellers Accountants, added: “The standard of written English in the job applications we receive massively affects their chances of getting through to interview.

“The reason why it is so important is that when that person is working for us, they will be in direct contact with clients.

“Communications need to be professional and of a high calibre at all times.”