100,000 ‘sales calculator’ cards have been given away to bargain hunters to remind them of the importance of brushing up their maths skills
‘As the Winter sales get underway, millions of shoppers may find they get less than they bargained for, due to poor maths skills. 14.9 million adults in England don’t have the numeracy level expected of an 11 year old and may struggle to work out even basic deals like "20% off" or "buy one, get the second half-price."
To help beat these bargain blues, ‘Get On’ campaign teams have braved the crowds today in some of the country’s most popular shopping districts. The campaign, run by the Department for Education and Skills, has commissioned 200,000 sales calculators offering tips on savings and deals. Alongside a handy percentage calculator, the public will be encouraged to test themselves on common discount questions to see if they could do with brushing up their numeracy skills.
Skills Minister Phil Hope, said:
"We all use numbers every day, but millions struggle to do the kind of basic sums which are so essential to our lives at work and at home. After trying to work out that "60% off" discount or multi-purchase deals, people may well be thinking about improving their skills in the New Year, and that’s why the Get On campaign is out on the streets today.
"Everyone enjoys the hunt for a bargain, but people might not realise that they can brush up their maths or reading and writing – locally, and for free! As well as picking out that shirt or pair of shoes, make sure you get one of our sales calculators and call the Get On Campaign hotline on 0800 100 900."
The high street campaign follows on from the recent partnership with the National Market Traders Federation which turned the nation’s stall holders into numeracy champions.’
To order up to 300 sales calculator cards for promotional activity in your area, contact the Get On Campaign Office on 020 7544 3130.
Source: DfES press release
