Cyborlink · International Business Etiquette
Europe · Country Profile

Doing business in the United Kingdom

A working reference on British business etiquette, culture, and cross-cultural communication — updated for the contemporary workplace.

United Kingdom Capital: London
Language: English
Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
§ 01 — Orientation

Introduction

England is one of four distinct regions of the United Kingdom, which also includes Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. England’s population is approximately 56 million, within a total United Kingdom population of roughly 68 million.

It is important to note that the Scots, Welsh, and Irish are not English, and are often offended when referred to as such. Additionally, citizens of the U.K. have historically not considered themselves European — a sentiment that was a significant factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum, which led to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union in 2020.

The English are very proud of their heritage and history. Along with their contributions to the world of today, several famous writers came from England. Some of the most famous are Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, and Chaucer. This century, England has seen many influential daughters and sons. The Beatles, Winston Churchill, and Queen Elizabeth II have all played a tremendous role in England’s presence in the modern world.

Fun Fact

Gambling is very popular in Britain. The British buy more lottery tickets than any other people in the world. It has been estimated that 75% of adults in Britain play the lottery at least once a week.

§ 02 — Cultural Analysis

Hofstede Analysis

United Kingdom — Six-Dimension Scores
Power Distance
35
Individualism
89
Masculinity
66
Uncertainty Avoidance
35
Long-Term Orientation
51
Indulgence
69
Source: Hofstede Insights. Scores on a 0–100 scale.

The United Kingdom scores very high on Individualism (89) — among the highest in the world, behind only a few of the Commonwealth nations it spawned. The British are a highly private people, taught from childhood to think for themselves and find their unique purpose in life.

At 66, Britain is a Masculine society — highly success-oriented and driven. A key point of confusion for the foreigner lies in the apparent contradiction between the British culture of modesty and understatement, which is at odds with the underlying success-driven value system. Critical to understanding the British is being able to “read between the lines.”

Low Uncertainty Avoidance (35) means the British are comfortable with ambiguity. Planning is not detail-oriented — the end goal will be clear, but the process of how to get there will be fluid and flexible. Low Power Distance (35) reflects a belief that inequalities among people should be minimized, which can seem contradictory given the historical class system.

Read the full Hofstede framework →

Religion.  According to the 2021 Census, Christianity remains the largest religion in the United Kingdom at 46.2% of the population — the first time it has fallen below half in modern records. “No religion” is the second-largest group at 37.2%, followed by Islam at 6.5%, Hinduism at 1.7%, Sikhism at 0.9%, Buddhism at 0.5%, and Judaism at 0.5%. Among Christians, the Church of England (Anglican) is the established church, with the monarch serving as its Supreme Governor. The UK is an increasingly secular and religiously diverse society.

§ 03 — Dress & Presence

Appearance

Dress, clothing,
body language
& gestures
  1. Business attire rules are somewhat relaxed in England, but conservative dress is still very important for both men and women.
  2. Dark suits, usually black, blue, or gray, are quite acceptable.
  3. Men’s shirts should not have pockets; if they do, the pockets should always be kept empty. Additionally, men should wear solid or patterned ties, while avoiding striped ties.
  4. Men wear laced shoes, not loafers.
  5. Businesswomen are not as limited to colors and styles as men are, though it is still important to maintain a conservative image.
§ 04 — Conduct

Behavior

Dining, gifts,
meetings &
general conduct
  1. Always be punctual in England. Arriving a few minutes early for safety is acceptable.
  2. Decision-making is slower in England than in the United States; therefore it is unwise to rush the English into making a decision.
  3. A simple handshake is the standard greeting (for both men and women) for business occasions and for visiting a home.
  4. Privacy is very important to the English. Therefore asking personal questions or intensely staring at another person should be avoided.
  5. Eye contact is seldom kept during British conversations.
  6. To signal that something is to be kept confidential or secret, tap your nose.
  7. Personal space is important in England, and one should maintain a wide physical space when conversing. Furthermore, it is considered inappropriate to touch others in public.
  8. Giving of gifts are not required as part of doing business in England.
  9. A business lunch will often be conducted in a pub and will consist of a light meal and perhaps a pint of ale.
  10. When socializing after work hours, do not bring up the subject of work.
  11. When dining out, it is not considered polite to toast those who are older than yourself.
“America and Britain are two nations divided by a common language.”
— attributed to George Bernard Shaw
§ 05 — Communication

Communication

Greetings,
introductions &
conversation
  1. In England, English is the official language, but it should be noted that Queen’s English and American English are very different.
  2. Often times ordinary vocabulary can differ between the two countries.
  3. Loud talking and disruptive behavior should be avoided.
  4. One gesture to avoid is the V for Victory sign, done with the palm facing yourself. This is a very offensive gesture.
  5. If a man has been knighted, he is addressed as “Sir” and his first name — example: Sir John. If writing a letter, the envelope is addressed “Sir First name and Last name” — example: Sir John Roberts.
§ 06 — Further Reading

Resources

Government & Data

News & Culture

Cultural Framework