General Information

The United Kingdom has now left the European Union since 1 January 2021 after a transitional period. Despite the long Brexit episode, the UK continued to remain a land of attraction for foreign investors in Europe (2nd in number of projects but 1st in job creation – Source: EY 05/2025).

Relieved by the “deal” concluded by London with the European Union, many international companies (nearly 8,000 in 2021) have resumed the path of establishment in the United Kingdom to begin commercial development and adapt to post-Brexit conditions (notably via import subsidiaries), thus adapting to the new customs and declaration constraints.

The impacts of Covid and geopolitical tensions, as in many neighbouring countries, have complicated the situation in terms of consumption or supply chain. The new migration laws may also have exacerbated a labour shortage in some sectors that hitherto recruited at European level. Not long ago, it was the rapid rise in inflation initially, and then the rise in government deficits that made the growth outlook rather weak, at least in the short term.

In the meantime, continue to be punctual in your appointments and rigourous in your presentations. Business is serious in the UK but does not prevent humour to relax the atmosphere. It is even recommended!

Prefer to have documentation/brochures in English (don't expect your interlocutor to speak French) and confirm your discussions in writing. Concretize your relationship with an appropriate contract. Do not hesitate to seek advice from professionals in the sector. Of course, know how to differentiate between English and British so as not to offend your potential Scottish, Welsh or Irish interlocutors.

Means of Payment & Banking Specificities

The pricing of transactions is systematic and is confined to a narrow range among the institutions in the market. Competition is based on the offer of services and quality, based on customer relations.

In the business sector, bank costs (interest rate margins, foreign exchange, handling fees) are generally higher than in France. Internet banking services (domestic and international) are widely used and encouraged.

For your commercial payments, beware of checks, which are very little used or accepted nowadays and offer little security to their beneficiaries (the issuance of checks without provision is not penalised besides rejection fees and opposition do not have to be justified).

Therefore, require payment by SWIFT wire transfer. Even though the UK is not part of the European Union or the Eurozone, the settlement channels in this currency are operational there as well as SEPA payments.