Numbers – we have a problem
Half of UK adults struggle with numbers.
Not because they’re not smart, but because numbers – let’s be honest – are tricky. And when numbers aren’t clear, people can’t make informed decisions, and their confidence and trust in you takes a hit.
If you’re a business that relies on numbers to communicate (spoiler: you are), this isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a problem. Confused customers are less likely to engage, to make better decisions, and to stick around.
The scale of the problem
Around half of working age adults have the numeracy skills of a primary school child. That’s about 20 million adults. The equivalent figure for literacy is 6 million adults.
Poor numeracy is also a hidden vulnerability, which means many organisations don’t take it into account when writing their communications.
There is a lot more work that can be done to communicate numbers in a better way. It’s not surprising that many of us are baffled by communications from financial services firms, utilities providers and from public sector organisations.
At Plain Numbers, we're here to change that.
What is numeracy?
Numeracy isn’t about maths; it’s about the practical number skills you need for everyday life. It’s about understanding financial statements, interpreting data and making informed decisions – skills that everyone needs to get by.
Like understanding your bank statement or phone bill, or knowing how your savings are performing or how much you spend on energy or water.
‘I don’t do numbers’
Many adults have a strong negative emotional response to numbers, often related to a poor experience of maths at school.
According to the Maths Anxiety Trust, around one in five adults experience maths anxiety. If this doesn’t affect you personally, we guess you know people who just ‘dont do numbers’. You can be sure that is what many of your customers, or potential customers, feel.
Are you confident that you are doing all you can to support them to make informed decisions based upon your communications?
Adopting the Plain Numbers Method isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a shift that makes everything better – for your business and your customers. We’ll show you how to do it. And it’s not just theory – research shows it works.
Our unique approach improves communications and customer understanding for everyone.
“Working closely with Plain Numbers has let me see just how passionate they are about ensuring clear communication, and how important it is for empowering consumers and building financial resilience.”
Policy Advisor, Association of British Insurers
Our research proves that clearer numbers significantly improve customer understanding.
Explore studies and insights showing how the Plain Numbers Method helps organisations communicate more effectively, ensuring customers can engage with confidence and make informed decisions. See the data that drives real impact.
