Overview United Kingdom

Insights into the regulations, traditions, and logistics of the United Kingdom.

Currency: British Pound/GBP
Calling code: +44
Area: 243.610 km² / 93.410 sq mi
Population: 64.100.000
Density: 267 people per km² / 661,9 per sq mi

1. Are there typical greeting rituals?

Professionally proffering a firm hand with eye contact and a genuine smile.

2. What business rules are to be followed?

Be professional, be timely and polite but relaxed. Dress accordingly. Ties are less common business attire today. Exchange business cards at the start of the meeting. Build the trust of the client. The host will generally make introductions in no particular order.

3. What preconception are there and which of these are actually true?

It is always rainy or foggy in the UK | The island gets low pressure areas that come across the Atlantic, however, in the South West there is partly a Mediterranean vegetation due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. So we actually have great weather and a mild climate.

British have a special sense of humor | The humor in Britain is blunt, direct, dry and often absurd. Especially the strong contrast between understatement and absolute directness may be foreign to non-Brits. But we love it.

4. What subjects are discussed during small talk?

Be observant, be topical, know your subject and know your clients interests.

5. What commodities play an important role in the country and to which countries does it export to and from which countries does it import from the most part?

a. Export:
Motor Vehicles, Fuels, Technology, Agriculture, Steel and Recovered Materials
To: France, the USA, Germany, the Netherlands and China

b. Import:
Motor Vehicles, Fuels, Pulp & Paper, Timber for construction, FMCG, Agriculture, Steel and Energy
From: Russia, Germany, China, France, the USA and Italy

6. What special logistics obstacles/difficulties are there on location?

Capacity, Governments, EU & trade agreements. Credit Insurance. Unsafe areas.

7. Are there traditional dishes that are eaten on specific holidays, for instance?

Fish on Fridays is a hangover from former times when fresh fish was landed at the harbours after a week at sea. Conversely fish was not eaten on a Monday as it was not fresh. Nowadays we live in different times and fresh fish is available every day. Due to our Colonial past Chicken Curry (Tikka Masala) became the most commonly eaten food nationwide and has been for the past decade. This has now been toppled with a traditional English Roast Dinner being favourite along with an English Breakfast.