Who Should Attend ?

Employees preparing for an assignment in the United Kingdom and their partners

Benefits of Attendance

This seminar aims at significantly improving the ability of the participants to meet the challenges of living and working abroad. The objective is to enable them to identify the stumbling blocks that lie ahead and to be able to adapt and integrate in the United-Kingdom.

At the end of this training, participants will have acquired insights and techniques to:

• Be aware of their own cultural baggage
• Understand British context and culture
• Analyse situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating more effectively
• Reduce and manage the symptoms of culture shock
• Understand British mindset, work practices, decision-making processes and negotiating styles
• Strike the right balance between personal et professional lives

Training Approach

• A cross-cultural approach of International Mobility
• Country specific trainers
• Personalized and familiy focused action plan
• Access to the Nomad’ Network, an exclusive online tool for Akteos’ clients and experts:  find resources, exchange experiences, knowledge and insights

Programme Outline

Module 1 : Successful personnal integration in the United-Kingdom

1. Cross-cultural awareness : the key to a successful expatriation

• Taking stock of one's own cultural baggage
• Culture shock and the integration process
• Identifying and going beyond cultural stereotypes

2. Key aspects of British culture

• An island kingdom proud of its identity, including four countries and a series of islands
• A multi-ethnic population
• A class system characterised by tradition
• A thousand year history.  A complex Parliamentary monarchy.
• One of the world's leading economic powers
• A two speed educational system

3. British values and behaviour patterns

• The family: a sign of social identity
• A state religion open to the world: the basics of Anglicanism
• The influence of tradition on British open-mindedness
• A respect for rank, order, individualism and freedom
• "Time is money", sport and surpassing one’s own capabilities
• Composure and humour: managed detachment

4. Practical day-to-day information

• Focus on the host town or city
• Transport, administration, housing, security, hygiene and healthcare
• Social life, leisure activities
• Schools, extracurricular activities, sport

Module 2 : Successful professionnal integration in the United-Kingdom

1. The British corporate world

• Major differences from one business sector to another
• A competitive spirit as a driving force.  The market, employment and turnover.
• Sociability, efficiency and commitment
• The role of the state and the authorities: trade-unions and lobbies

2. Effective communication with the British

• English: a complex language with a host of possible nuances
• Non-verbal communication, verbal language and irony: hidden messages
• Forthrightness and euphemisms
• The role of networking

3. Working with British teams

• Achieving personal credibility: punctuality, honesty, reliability, appearance and formality
• Effective management: efficiency, accessibility and bearing
• Fair play: a rejection of favouritism.  Joint decision-making
• Respect for the individual.  Isolating conflicts
• Relationships in and out of work: avoiding confusion

4. Successful meetings and negotiations with the British teams

• Breaking the ice to build trust and confidence
• Speaking and behaving in a professional manner
• The importance of meeting deadlines
• Attitudes to contracts and their implications

5. Final handy tips

• Caution, patience and humility
• Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code, etc
• Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion