A pioneering free online guide designed to prevent business travellers making cultural faux pas when trading abroad has been launched by the University of Salford.
Passport to Trade gives advice on all aspects of foreign business culture - from why men shouldn't give yellow flowers to female business acquaintances in Belgium (it's seen as a sexual proposition), to why you should avoid business calls to Spain mid-afternoon (it's siesta time).
Aimed at SMEs and managed by the University, the guide is the culmination of two years' work researching communication, culture and business etiquette in 25 EU countries. The website is also translated into French and German.
Visitors can access information about each country's economic environment, politics and business practice, with the option to download materials, rate pages and configure data.
Dr Jane Silver from the University's Enterprise Technology Centre said: "In Britain we are more culturally unaware than any other country. That can seriously hinder doing business abroad.
"In an increasingly competitive global economy it is vital that businesses from one EU member state realise the importance of the cultural and linguistic environment of other member states. Passport to Trade informs businesspeople about the market before their departure and provides the hands-on information to help them hit the ground running when they make their trip."
Passport to Trade is managed by the University of Salford and consists of a team of partner institutions from across the EU. Go to www.businessculture.org for more details.
Ends
Notes to Editors
To find an academic expert for informed comment on a wide range of subjects, go to www.salford.ac.uk/press_office/experts/
For further information or photographs contact:
Jamie Brown / Rachel Conway
Press and PR
The University of Salford
Room 113, Faraday House
Salford, Greater Manchester
M5 4WT, UK
T +44 (0)161 295 5361
F +44 (0)161 295 4705
j.brown@salford.ac.uk
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