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Business Customs
London is the business capital of Europe and you can expect stress. If you are working in the city, be ready for hard-paced and competitive action. If you are out of the square mile, it might not be quite as competitive, but nonetheless you can expect to be pushed.
Most banks, consultancies and professional business expect smart business wear for both men and women, Monday to Friday – normally suits. Dress-down Friday has made slight in-roads, but has yet to become a norm. If permitted, dress down consists of collared shirts, khaki trousers and the like.
When greeting people, a handshake is expected for both men and women. First names are also used when greeting co-workers. Titles such as Mr and Mrs are reserved for a select few, such as senior and distant staff, with personal names generally being preferred. The British are also not as politically correct as Americans, so expect less sensitivity regarding sexual innuendo.
The workplace is multicultural: expect colleagues from – literally – any country in the world. In professional life, Asian, Irish, Australian and South African immigrants feature strongly.
Business lunches and dinners, and socialising with your co-workers after work form a central part of London business life. While alcohol is generally abstained from at business meals, aside the congratulatory drinks following the conclusion of a successful deal, it is de rigueur when it comes to socialising with your co-workers. You can expect trips to the pub for a pint of beer and, while not compulsory, these trips can be helpful as you seek to integrate yourself into your new work environment.
If there are two things you need to be especially wary of, they are London’s transport system and the standard of services offered – expect both to let you down. From strikes to breakdowns to congestion, don’t expect to arrive at the office on time for 365 days of the year. And prepare for frustration when it comes to getting basic services performed. Whether it’s installation of a telephone line or a plumbing problem: make sure all work is inspected, because call-outs to correct faults will be met by serious evasive action.
With regard to services, good advice to take nothing at face value. Enquire and get references from service companies, question prices and check their background. Ensure a service provider names an individual who will be working with your company, rather than suffer call-out “teams” that vary from one week to the next.
You can expect all business to be conducted in English and business hours are generally 09.00 to 18.00.
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