Business culture

The United Kingdom is a class-based society and the division between upper and lower classes is seen everywhere from the education system to where people live and what positions they hold. It is important to recognize this distinction, as it is significantly different from Denmark.

In Denmark, modesty often prevails which is not always perceived as a virtue in Great Britain. Instead, it is important to state or showcase the strengths of the organisation and the products.

In general, Danes are often too direct, outspoken and personal according to British preferences. Therefore, it is key to allow time to build trust and good relation with new contacts when initiating business in the UK.

The choice of attire is not of utmost importance, but it is recommended wearing a suit and a tie for the initial meeting, with the option to transition to a more casual clothing determined by the host in the following meetings.

Contacting British business leaders directly can be challenging. An idea could be to suggest the possibility of visiting “when you happen to be in the area next week”.

Whether you have made a deal or not can be difficult to determine, as a typical British businessperson may not explicitly decline or reject the offer. Instead, they often rely on delaying responses, hoping that eventually the other party will understand this as a signal to give up and move on.

Despite the fact that Brits and Danes have a lot of common ground and appear to be very alike, it is important to remember that they have a different cultural baggage and to be aware of the difference iin communication as mentioned above.

Rules of thumb

There are a few important guidelines to keep in mind when conducting business in the UK:

·         Approximately 10% of the population are immigrants – primarily from the Commonwealth - and many have brought their culture and habits with them.

·         It is key to connect with business leaders’ PA. A personal connection with the PA ensures a clearer and faster response.

·         It is better to say “Sir” and “Madam” too much than too little.

·         The business attire includes a tie and is perceived as a professional look.

·         Even though you are on first name basis, you should not decide the speed.

·         When the ice is broken, the British are often as informal, humorous and sarcastic as many Danes.

·         Scots, Irishmen and Welsh do not like being called English; they are British.

·         As the Brits are very polite, they may avoid giving a rejection, which may prolong a process and require you to follow up again and again.

 

Office hours

The general working hours in the UK are longer compared to Denmark. A normal working day in the office is Monday to Friday from 9.00/9.30 to 17.30-18, but in many leadership positions people will come in earlier and leave later. The lunchbreak is usually between 13.00 and 14.00.

Banks are usually open from 9.15 to16.45 Monday to Friday and few branches are open Saturday as well.

Shop opening hours depend on business type and location. Stores are normally open until at least 18.00, but often to 20.00 or later, and are also open Saturday and Sunday between 11.00/12.00 to 17.00/18.00. This particularly includes stores located on shopping streets in larger cities.