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useful information about uk ::

Life in the UK :

People	Hints + Tips	Property	Food	Weather	Conversions
Health	Culture	Travel	Safety	Money	Utilities

Custom and Culture :

Language

English is the main language spoken in Britain. Because of the many cultures that have adopted England as their home, there are a variety of other languages that you may hear, but English is most widely used. There are also different accents and colloquialisms that are prevalent in the different regions of the country that can sometimes be hard to understand.

Nonverbals, or 'body' language, form an important part of first impressions you create. The first few minutes in any interaction are vital. That's all it takes for someone to make up his or her mind about you. Nonverbals include your posture, gestures, body movements, and facial expressions. Make sure that your nonverbals match what you are saying.

You convey messages all the time through your nonverbals and if you're not aware, you can give a wrong impression. Fiddling with your tie or shuffling loose change in your pocket is distracting and makes you seem nervous. Be aware of what you are doing and with practice you will be able to project a positive image.

Social Psyche

The British are a warm people yet keep their distance. They do not overtly show their affection, but are jolly people, and are generally friendly. Emotions are not to be shown in public; the phrase "keep a stiff upper lip" is a good example of their demeanour. They are the masters of understatement.

The English do not consider themselves European. This is vital when discussing issues regarding the European Union. While the English are often self-critical, visitors should avoid criticising the ways of the people; similarly if they share their complaints with you, do not participate.

The English apologise often, for even small inconveniences.
Religion is normally considered a private subject.

Business Psyche

There is a high need for success, and decisions are made slowly and deliberately.
There is an inherent trust in the roles people play (but not necessarily in the people), within the business system and a strong feeling of the interdependency of these roles. The individual has a right to his/her private life and this should not be discussed in business negotiations.
The English are highly individualistic, taking responsibility for their decisions, but always within the framework of the family, group or organisation.
Individual initiative and achievement are emphasized, resulting in strong individual leadership.
Company policy is followed regardless of who is doing the negotiating.
Women have a great deal of equality in both pay and power.
Punctuality is very important.
Business cards can be exchanged at the beginning of meetings.

Customs

Handshakes are part of an introduction. Businesswomen as well as men always shake hands when meeting people. You should shake hands when you welcome people to your office, run into someone you know, when you say goodbye and when the other person offers to shake hands. Never ignore an offered hand. While it is common for many countries to address a functional superior or a senior manager with the prefix "Sir", in the UK this is not mandatory as they are fairly informal when it comes to forms of address. This doesn't necessarily mean that you should be on first name terms with your boss, so play it by ear.

There are certain social customs and norms unique to the British. When you meet people, or are introduced to people, there are some things you should keep in mind:

It is the custom to shake hands at the beginning and the end of a meeting.
The normal form of greeting is a smile, often accompanied by a nod, a wave, and/or a verbal greeting.
In business situations, you shake hands firmly.
In casual situations you could smile and say hello.
When asked 'How are you?' you should respond with a simple 'Fine, thank you. How are you?'

How you address a person when introduced is important. You must remember a few things:

Find out the honorary titles of anyone you will be in contact with, and use them no matter how familiar you are with the person.
Doctors, clergy and so forth are addressed by title plus last name; however, surgeons are addressed as Mr, Mrs or Miss rather than "Sir", you should use the title of the person you are addressing.
Full names are used for initial greetings and "Sir" is an address of respect.
The order of most names is first name, middle name and last name.
Be respectful and use a title such as Dr, Ms, Miss, Mrs, or Mr with the last name.
If you are not sure of a woman's marital status use Ms (pronounced `Miz').
When meeting someone for the first time, use a title and their last name until you are told to do otherwise.
Introduce yourself as you want to be called.

Culture

British people in general come across as quite friendly and helpful. Good service is one of the most pleasant surprises when moving from overseas. Class and social differences are a fact of life you will see in many aspects of British life. It starts with schooling, where you can choose between state schools or private schools. People who can afford it choose private health care. You will notice that charities for every possible cause are prevalent all over the country.

Britain is quite a child-friendly place, with a lot of activities and events for children. Another passion of the British is cars. On a sunny Sunday you will see many exotic cars on the road and tinkering on them is a national pastime. Animals are very much loved by the British. They regularly make the headlines and you will notice more veterinary clinics than medical ones. Do not be surprised if your dog gets more attention than your beautiful baby does.

There are many expatriate organisations in the UK. If you don't find a group of your nationality, call your embassy. They usually have lists of social clubs. Churches are also a good way to meet people from your home country.

Gifts

Gifts are not expected, but are polite as tokens and a good way of showing appreciation. These are a few do's and don'ts when giving gifts:

Gifts are not part of doing business in England.
Rather than giving gifts, it is preferable to invite your hosts out for a meal or a show.
When you are invited to an English home, you may bring flowers (not white lilies which signify death), liquor or champagne and chocolates or folk crafts from home.
Send a brief, handwritten thank-you note promptly afterwards.
When bringing flowers, consult with the florist about the appropriate type and number.
Be cautious in making purchases, as there is often no refund or exchange policy.
At Christmas time, gifts are usually exchanged both socially as well as at work. Business associates appreciate things for the office, liquor or wine.
If you stay with someone in the UK, a thank you gift would be a good idea.
Personal gifts such as perfume or clothing are inappropriate for women.