Doing Business in the United Kingdom (UK)
Doing business in the UK can be different from other countries due to its geographic make-up of several different countries and its cultural diversity.
The United Kingdom is made up of four countries each with its own sense of nationality, they are as follows: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
When doing business in the UK it is important to use the right terminology – if the person you are doing business with is from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland then they may prefer to be known as British.
However each country also has their own national name:
- English – refers to people from England
- Scottish / Scots – refers to people from Scotland
- Welsh – refers to people from Wales
- Irish / Northern Irish – refers to people from Northern Ireland
A land of different cultures
The UK is home to many different cultures thus making if difficult to define what it is to be ‘British’ or from the UK.
The mix of ethical groups includes:
- White
- African
- Indian
- Asian
- Caribbean
- Chinese
- Pakistani
Due to its large ethical mix, the United Kingdom also has a multitude of different languages and religions embracing its different cultures.
Communication styles
Depending on the age of the person you are speaking with, you may find you get a different response. The older British generations may be more well spoken and establish more respect from each other.
When doing business in the UK, most people see each other as equals and as such do not place one person above another. The British manner of speaking is to be direct and modest and normally involves making and keeping eye contact with the person during conversation.
At the beginning of most meetings, British people will shake hands and introduce themselves but there is not much, if any, physical contact other than this until the end of the meeting when they may shake hands again. The British like their own sense of space so allow them a few feet in which to feel comfortable.
When communicating with someone they know well, a British person may be more informal.
Men and women are generally seen as equal (apart from within some of the religious cultures) and as such it is normal to see many business women.
Meetings and Negotiations
The British like to be known for their punctuality and most people will be on time for a meeting. A British person will call you if they are going to be over five minutes late and will not normally take another phone call or message whilst in a meeting with you unless it is really urgent as this would be considered as rude.
The direction of British meetings will often depend on who is attending – if it is a meeting driven by a manager of person of senior authority then they may do most of the talking whilst others listen and take notes. If all the people attending are equal in position then the meeting may be more free flowing with each person putting in their ideas and opinions.
In general UK business meetings will be formal and have a clearly defined purpose and agenda. Before the meeting starts, there may be some small talk about sports, family or the weather!
If you use figures and materials during the meeting, make sure that you have the relevant sources at which you referenced them from as you may be asked to back up your facts and figures.
After the meeting, a follow up letter or email may be sent in order to sum up the points made at the meeting.