Tip One

Don’t send a kid to do an adult’s job. The Brits are not impressed by MBA’s, Armani suits and zeitgeist buzzwords. They like to do business with someone who can bring a little gravitas and decorum to the situation. Many senior British businessmen and businesswomen have got where they are today by moving up through the company from the ground floor. They want to do business with someone like themselves. The University of Life is still highly regarded in the UK.

Tip Two

The Brits are a reserved bunch and they do their jobs in a reserved way. They are convinced by solid evidence and hard facts and what you feel about something is really not important. You want a close relationship? Get married!

Tip Three

Giving presents is not part of Brit business culture. It embarrasses them. If you are invited to a Brit’s house, however, take a bottle of decent wine. If you want to mark the closing a big deal, why not invite your opposite number to the theatre or the opera? Under no circumstances give something ostentatiously expensive – that would be considered vulgar.

Tip Four

Don’t talk loudly. If there is one thing the Brits hate it is a ‘loudmouth’. Don’t touch them either! No Continental kissing! Keep your distance and only look them in the eyes when you want to emphasise something. This may seem very cold to you but remember…you’re in Britain. It’s their country and that’s the way they like it thank you very much.

Tip Five

The British don’t speak very much because they like to mean what they say. They find expressions such as ‘Have a nice day’ deeply suspect because they detect a lack of sincerity. They have generally found ‘goodbye’ to be a suitable valediction. Never call a Brit ‘my friend’ unless s/he is.

Tip Six

The English use understatement a lot and are unlikley to show any overt signs of enthusiasm. If you want to know what a Brit is thinking, listen closely to what he says. Just because your presentation only got a few ‘hmms’ does not mean you haven’t clinched the deal.

Tip Seven

The Brits used to have an empire. A really, really big one. They are proud of their imperial past and that should be respected. Say nice things about the Queen.

Tip Eight

In casual conversation with a Briton don’t mention Northern Ireland, religion, the ‘Euro’, Brussels or sex. You would be okay to talk about the weather, sport and beer.

Tip Nine

Aggressive sales techniques will fail in the UK. Although they are reserved they are quite capable of saying no.

Tip Ten

Use your common sense and don’t take the other tips too seriously!!