Plain Numbers welcomes government focus on numeracy, but firms must play their part.

At Plain Numbers we are pleased that the Prime Minister has put a focus on numeracy. It is the consumer vulnerability which impacts the largest number of adults in the UK and one that has been largely missed. We welcome initiatives that support people with their number confidence. While education is a part of this, more needs to be done to help adults who struggle with numbers outside the education system.  

As well as improving the way the education system prepares people with the skills they need to tackle the challenges of everyday life, we also call upon organisations and governments to make those everyday challenges easier. Our research has shown this is possible, and that a Plain Numbers Approach can double the number of people who understand key information.  

As the Prime Minister reflected, it is not just a system change that is needed but a cultural one. Given the importance of numeracy to money management it’s crucial that people should feel comfortable around numbers. A culture where people feel unable to engage with numbers can have big ramifications on the life decisions people make. This is especially relevant today, when people must contend with a cost-of-living crisis and a complex web of financial services and products in their day-to-day lives.  

Given that approximately half of UK adults have the maths skills of a primary school student this is a lot to ask of them. We must look to support these adults now, not just look to support future generations. 

A level of responsibility for change must lie with the companies people engage with throughout their adult lives. If communications are inadvertently confusing, someone who already feels nervous around numbers and maths will find it understandably difficult to make informed decisions. Unintentionally the culture of numbers being ‘scary’ is continued. Overcomplication of financial information that comes stacked full of numbers and jargon only serves to further enhance anxieties – and people can be understandably put off from engaging with their finances at all. 

At Plain Numbers we are delighted to work with leading firms that are already keenly working to address this very issue. We know that numbers and data can be communicated in a way that significantly improves the readers' understanding. By utilising this Plain Numbers approach our Partners are already helping their customers navigate the myriad of financial decisions they must make and putting the consumer first.  

Consumers have a right to expect firms to communicate with them in a way they understand, so they can make informed decisions. We firmly believe that adults already living with numeracy issues should not be forgotten in the conversation around numeracy.  

Alison Plant, Co-Founder and Chair of Plain Numbers.  

“It’s an enormously welcome step forward to see the Prime Minister emphasising the importance of numeracy skills. While we support attempts to improve the education system, it’s clear that adults currently do not have the number skills needed to navigate everyday life challenges. I am proud that many market leading firms have decided to communicate in Plain Numbers, and I call on all organisations to play their part too”.