Working in the UK: A Dialogue Primer
The United Kingdom is a major global hub. Home to more than 67 million people, it comprises England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The World Bank ranked the UK as among the best locations globally for ease of commerce—the ease with which taxes, corporate laws and business are conducted – there’s just not as much red tape as in many countries. As a major destination spot, the UK also hosts many first-time visitors from all over the globe.
Despite added Visa-Worker rules following Brexit, each year, hundreds of thousands of people travel to the UK from all over the world. To make your UK stay a real success, it’s wise to come prepared. Below is our ranking of the key things to consider when arriving in the UK for work. The most important factor when working abroad: good Business English skills.
Dialogue, as a multi-cultural advisor, translation company, and language specialists, wants you to know what to expect, so you can practice English, today. By preparing yourself in advance, you won’t just survive—but thrive.
Top 10 Things to Consider When Arriving in the UK for Work
Double-check recent Visa changes.
With Brexit passing, most nationals of European Economic Area (EEA) countries will now be required a Visa to be allowed to live and work in the UK.Study your transit maps.
Wherever it is that you’ll be based in the UK, we recommend you study the transit maps for your area in advance. This will help you better process locations once you arrive.How will you travel internally?
Will you commute to work daily? Will you need to take a taxi, the subway, the train, or will you drive to work? If you plan to drive, bring an International Driver’s License with you—issued by most major governments, and typically valid for one year.The London Underground.
Rather than counterrevolutionaries or a Ska band, the London Underground simply refers to Britain’s subway or metro. This underground rail system is also referred to as ‘the Tube.’Don’t be ‘put off’.
The British have a reputation for being reserved, stoic, even distant—at first. Don’t take that personally. They are just that way. Don’t be ‘put off’ by this – just give us time and we do warm up once we get to know you!Reach out to your contacts.
The UK is huge. It’s always a good idea to initiate a meeting through third-party contacts or family ties. Whether within a school, university, or company, personal referrals can greatly enhance access and increase trust.Work on pronunciation, daily!
Every day, make time to practice the things you need to say more clearly. Listen to phonetic training videos on business English. Practice speaking—aloud. Not just in your head.Ask for ‘take-home menus.’
In any restaurant or cafe, you can ask for a menu to take with you. This will help you learn the names of regional meals, local foods, basic ingredients and more.Prepare to swim – not sink!
There’s nothing like full immersion to teach one English, quickly. Those brave enough and fortunate enough to travel to the UK for work will have to adapt to speaking in English ’24/7.’ When it’s sink or swim time, you’ll learn faster than you ever have before.Practice all the above, right now.
Kudos, our English language learning library, will make sure you’re prepared. Our needs-oriented, professional business English courses target needs. This way, you learn what you most need to know first, so you can do your job in English.
Speak Responsibly
There are many things to expect when arriving in the UK for work. The most important thing for you to focus on, long before your first day on the job: learn the English language.
Our Kudos learning library is very different from conventional teaching methods. Not only is our library accessible every day, rain, or shine, but our modules focus on teaching a solid base of professional competence. This lets teams build confidence in their business English, and helps learners overcome many of the frustrations that bilingual students often feel.
Why is the Kudos library so complete? Because we at Dialogue aren’t just translators. We’re also leaders in measuring English competency through Advanced (CAE) and Proficiency (CPE) Cambridge English exams. At Dialogue, we know how much language matters.
For those transitioning to working in the UK, a word to the wise: Don’t leave for tomorrow what you should have been practising yesterday. With our intuitive and engaging Ed Tech learning resources and cultural training services we help teams adapt and adjust, linguistically. Our vital resource library can be the bridge that helps you reach—and exceed—your dreams.