Doing business & staying in touch
Doing business in Wales
All public-sector organisations are bilingual but most private companies conduct business in English unless all parties speak Welsh. Overseas visitors should be prepared to speak English during meetings, if necessary through an interpreter. Suits are customary for both men and women; men should also wear a tie. It is advisable to carry business cards.
Business meetings in the UK can be fairly formal affairs, depending on their level. It is common for lunches and dinners to form part of the process and visiting business people are often entertained out of working hours by their hosts.
Office hours:
Business hours are usually from 0900 to 1700 or 1800 Monday to Friday, though some offices and most shops also open on Saturdays. Many shops open on Sunday too, sometimes shorter hours.
Economy:
The UK is a member of the G8 group of the world's leading industrial nations. Engineering (especially of military products), chemicals, electronics, construction and textiles are the main components of the industrial sector. Among service industries, tourism, media, retail, financial services, telecommunications and computer services are the most important and have undergone rapid growth, while heavy industries have suffered relative decline. Unemployment in 2006 stood at 2.8%.
The UK's external economic relations are now dominated by the EU (which accounts for 70% of all UK trade), and the overriding issue facing the government is the extent to which they are willing to integrate into the European economy.
The argument is now focused on whether Britain should adopt the Euro. Many political and business leaders favour membership, but there is huge opposition in the country at large. The conclusion of the debate may be decisive to Britain's economic future.
Keeping in Touch in Wales
Telephone:
There are numerous public call boxes. Some boxes take coins, others phonecards or credit cards.
Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is mostly good, but can be patchy in rural areas.
Internet:
There are Internet cafés and centres in most urban areas. Some multimedia phone booths, often located at main railway stations and airports, offer touch-screen access.
Media:
The media are free and able to report on all subjects. The variety of publications reflects the full spectrum of political opinion. The Western Mail is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff and circulated in North Wales. The Daily Post is the Welsh edition of the Liverpool daily. Wales on Sunday is a popular tabloid. South Wales Echo is a Cardiff-based evening paper. South Wales Evening Post is a Swansea-based evening paper. All the national UK TV channels and radio stations are available throughout Wales. BBC Radio Wales caters for the English-speaking sector; BBC Cymru is BBC Wales' Welsh Language station.
